Holiday Parks in survival mode
Staff absences and shortages adding to poor summer season revenue
While the NZ Government’s new COVID business support payment will help the country’s 280-holiday parks survive over the next six weeks, governing body Holiday Parks New Zealand (HPNZ) says the onus must be on reopening New Zealand’s borders as quickly as possible.
HPNZ chief executive, Fergus Brown says the new government support will be useful for many of the parks which due to the current environment and ever-changing traffic light settings saw a very short summer season.
“Visitor numbers were good until January 10, but since then business has been mixed. A few parks are continuing to welcome good numbers but others say that the usual second wave of visitors did not arrive in late January and February,” he said.
“Kiwis have largely stopped travelling since we moved to the Red setting on 23 January. Although they can still travel at Red, people are reluctant to go far from home.”
Mr Brown said the situation has been further exacerbated by self-isolation requirements for many of the 2500 parks staff who have been deemed close contacts.
“Many are already struggling to find staff and absences due to self-isolation add to the headaches,” he said.
“We are looking forward to being able to welcome back international holidaymakers, as Australia has done this week.
“Holiday parks want to get back to making money and not relying on Government support.
“We need our borders to reopen with no self-isolation requirements as soon as possible.
Mike Parker-Brown is a UK-trained and qualified journalist and an award-winning travel communicator with more than 30 years experience.
Since 2002, Mike has worked as a freelance writer and PR consultant providing his services to major organisations in Australia and internationally in the tourism, aviation, hospitality, recruitment and export marketing sectors.
