Plenty of rooms available for tourists  but not for long

VISITORS to Wanganui are having no trouble finding accommodation, a delight not mutually shared by accommodation providers.
A combination of factors can be blamed for the current lull in the demand for accommodation compared with previous years, including a six percent decrease in international tourists visiting New Zealand, the summer holiday period keeping some visitors away, and a later than usual start to Wanganui's summer visitor influx.
Motels appear to be the hospitality group hardest hit.
President of the Wanganui branch of New Zealand's Motel Association, Morrie Springer, said the period has certainly been quieter than usual.
He said the most notable decrease in clients has been the "drive ins" people who don't book along with corporate clients.
Despite this, motel owners are remaining positive with expectations that business will pick up shortly.
"It is up and away from here on in. Corporates are already bringing their clients in once again," Mr Springer said.
Kingsgate Hotel reservations manager, Suzie Goodwin, is similarly looking forward to the return of their corporate clientele.
"Bookings have been steady ... it's ticking along, but January is generally a quieter month anyway."
Holiday parks and backpackers are the exception, as both are enjoying the benefits of low-budget travellers visiting the city. Tamara Backpackers owner Rory Smith, said they are now "in the thick of the busy season".
"We are flat out, full most nights, which is to be expected."
But Mr Smith says this could very well be short lived. Past trends indicate that Tamara's customers are expected to dwindle from March onwards.
"We got busier later than usual in December. If you go by normal trends, this would indicate it [the season] will finish early."
Andre Vanschalkwyk, owner of the Whanganui River Top 10 Holiday Park, said bookings for this time of year are basically on track.
Annual Wanganui events, such as rowing regattas and the upcoming Turakina Highland Games, are the main catalyst for attracting customers to the holiday park once again.
"We have bookings from all over the North Island coming to stay and compete for the Rose Bowl rowing regatta," Mr Vanschalkwyk said.
Most of the bookings are from Wellington.
As a consequence of the Turakina Highland Games starting in two weeks' time the park has seen bookings inflate to full capacity toward the end of January.
The Castlecliff Seaside Holiday Park has also benefited from sporting events.
Park managers say the annual fishing competitions mark a normal trend where competitors and visitors book out the facility.
Around 50 percent of people visiting Wanganui's holiday parks are German, with visitors from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and some Kiwis making up the rest.
And the odd local has also been known to pitch a tent for the night.
Holiday parks are expected to remain around 75 percent full for the rest of the month.
Short periods of full capacity have already been booked in February and March with further upcoming events in the city.