Organisers of the hugely popular Art Deco Festival say the current Covid lockdown hasn't impacted preparations for the 2022 event and they are "gearing up for a full festival".
However, organisers have stated the event planned for February 2022 will not go ahead at level 2 or higher, and hopethe existing lockdown restrictions will not last too long.
The famous festival in Napier - which attracts about 40,000 people to the region each year - was cancelled last-minute in February due to Covid disruptions.
Art Deco Trust chair Barbara Arnott said the trust had learned a lot from that festival including the need to be flexible.
However, she said they would not hold the event if the region was at level 2 or higher next year, as it would impact too many events which were designed for large crowds and for wide inclusion.
"It would become an inside festival and a restrictive festival [if we held it at alert level 2 or higher]," she said.
"The festival is about the whole of Napier getting involved.
"Only 100 people are allowed at a gathering at level 2 and most of our events are sold out before the festival. What gives the festival its name is the fact that everyone can enjoy it."
She said at this stage they were "gearing up for a full festival" in February 2022 and preparations were well under way.
Tickets for next year's festival will go on sale in October and November.
Meanwhile, other businesses which rely on Art Deco tourism in the region have been heavily impacted during the current lockdown.
Deco City Discoverer owner Mark Scofield, who runs a variety of bus tours and trips including with his two eye-catching art deco buses, said his business had lost about $30,000 in booked business during the first weeks of the lockdown.
He said one trip which had to be postponed was a sold out trip to Wellington for the Bledisloe Cup final.
Mark Scofield, from Deco City Discoverer, says his business has been severely impacted during the lockdown. Photo / Paul Taylor
"That would have been a huge trip for us," he said.
Scofield said they would not be able to operate again until level 2.
He said he had received some encouraging messages from clients who said they would re-book trips when the alert levels drop.
