New Zealand Earthquake travel impact
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck late last night in New Zealand’s South Island, leaving two dead and triggering aftershocks as far as the lower North Island, a tsunami scare and severe weather warnings in coastal regions.
The earthquake struck near popular tourist spot, Hanmer Springs, 91km north of Christchurch, which itself has only just recovered from a devastating earthquake in 2011.
Earlier this morning tsunami warnings in the South Island’s east coast were cleared, but authorities have requested people avoid Wellington CBD today, in a bid to contain any after affects from the quake, which badly hit the Capital overnight and caused damage to buildings and roads.
Speaking to Travel Weekly, Tourism New Zealand General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Deborah Gray said it was too early to tell whether the earthquake will have a lasting impact on tourism to the region such as with the Christchurch quake.
“It is impossible to predict the impact this may have on tourism,” Gray said.
“Our international teams have been contacted by trade partners and we know that interest in the impact of the quakes, is high”
“We will be responding to questions as we can, as more information becomes available,” Gray said.
In just 12 hours, more than 250 aftershocks have been recorded, including three over magnitude six.
According to stuff.co.nz, the earthquake has already raised concern with Chinese tour operators to the Christchurch and Canterbury region, with local tourism officials already having fielded “hundreds of enquires from Chinese travel agents and potential visitors”, the news site said.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Vic Allen told the paper they were using social media to get out the message that the rebuilt city was safe, but “there was concern that latest shakes and tsunami scare could be a major set back for tourism.”
“When you see it on the GeoNet map, the big red dot looks very close to Christchurch, whereas in fact it’s far enough away for the city to be unaffected; to feel it but [there’s] no damage,” Allen said, as per the paper report.
“There’s concern among Christchurch operators this will set us back years in terms of the visitor market. We just have to try to get the message out that we are a very strong city now that’s rebuilt and can handle this kind of thing, and it’s business as usual.”
Tour operator Grand Pacific Tours are reporting on their website some tours that are on the road will be interrupted by the temporary cancellation of the Interislander Ferry and passenger train services plus roadworks that require immediate attention.
Meanwhile The Travel Corporation told Travel Weekly it has guests travelling in New Zealand with AAT Kings and Contiki “but none of them are impacted and everyone is continuing with their holidays as planned.”
Canterbury hotel chair for Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Bruce Garrett, told stuff.co.nz cancellations were occurring because clients were stuck in, or unable to get to, popular places such as Kaikoura or Hanmer Springs.
“One hotel reported 30 cancellations and another 20 rooms in doubt, so that’s a possible 50 cancellations and that was by 8.30 this morning.”
Meanwhile national carrier Air New Zealand are unsurprisingly experiencing a high volume of calls, and have advised travellers to keep a close eye on travel plans, which could be disrupted due to the aftermath of the earthquake.
“We advise keeping an eye on our Arrivals and Departures page for up to date information regarding your flight, and recommend signing up to receive Travel Alert notifications,” the airline states on its website.
The airline has offered earthquake flexibility for travellers, permitted on all fare types for customers booked and ticketed up to and including Sunday 13 November 2016 for travel to or from any New Zealand destination prior to and including Monday 21 November 2016. This flexibility covers both domestic and international flights booked as part of the same ticket.
Air NZ have advised customers who have tickets issued prior to and including Sunday 13 November 2016 for travel to or from any New Zealand destination prior to and including Monday 21 November 2016 may defer or bring travel forward to a later/earlier Air NZ flight before Monday 21 November 2016 without change penalty or fare difference. The same customers can also change travel to another Air NZ destination without penalty, but fare differences and taxes will apply.
Image credit: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/318010/earthquake-in-pictures Garden City Helicopters
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