Trenz: We're still open for tourists

Christchurch remains a key transport and tourism hub for New Zealand's domestic and international travel market, despite areas of the central city still being cordoned off.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Tim Hunter spoke to media at the Trenz tourism industry expo in Queenstown yesterday about what was open, what was opening and the challenges facing the city's tourism sector.
Parts of the central business district remain cordoned off, the tramway is likely to be out of action for some time, the Mt Cavendish Gondola is not operating and the Arts Centre and surrounding area are out of action.
Hotel owners are still waiting to access 17 inner-city premises, containing two-thirds of the city's commercial beds.
"It will probably be another six to nine months before we get serious access to those, then another two or three months to get them tidied up."
But with Christchurch's major convention centre unavailable, Hunter said the need for large-volume city accommodation was lower and visitors, other than large tour parties, had plenty of choices available.
"There will be some challenges over the next 18 months, but this should improve once the city centre reopens. Occupancy rates have never been very high in Christchurch and, without the large conferences and conventions, that takes some of the pressure off for the leisure market."
Tourism is hoping to have significant input into rebuilding plans to create a new city centre offering even more to visitors than the original.
Christchurch Airport has its own electrical, sewerage and water systems so was able to get back up and operating quickly after the February 22 earthquake, which Hunter said was invaluable to the community and to the tourism industry.
"Our airport is the only one in the South Island that can handle the large-body aircraft - it's vital."
The airport receives 580,000 international arrivals each year and he said it was still a key gateway to the South Island and to New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the February earthquake had changed the sector's outlook for this year considerably, but he was positive about the industry's ability to work around the damaged areas and keep people coming to New Zealand and to Christchurch.
"In March, inbound tourism was down 11 per cent, but it was up 5 per cent again in February. A huge amount of effort has been put in by Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism to restore the market, but it has a huge challenge ahead managing perceptions and keeping them in line with the reality."