CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF/Waikato Times
Lake Taupō Hole In One Challenge shift manager Bailey Nelson (left) with shift manager and ball diver Lance Morris.
Taupō’s visitor accommodation occupancy rate is the best in the country and Huka Falls Jet operators have had their best summer since 2008 as the district recovers from a disastrous few years for the tourism industry.
Visitor accommodation occupancy rates for December, provided by the Ministry of Trade, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), reveal that Taupō’s accommodation providers were at 67.6% of capacity – the best in the country – with Queenstown at 67.5%, and far ahead of traditional summer tourism hotspots such as Rotorua (57.2%) and the Coromandel (50.2%).
Love Taupō general manager Jane Wilson said those numbers were even better for motels and hotels that were at 78% capacity in December 2022.
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF
Lake Taupo Hole In One Challenge diver Lance Morris swims out to retrieve golf balls even in the winter months. Golfers can come and try to hit the ball in the hole in one.
“Overall, the summer season has been positive for our operators,” she said.
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In terms of visitor spending, domestic revenue for the year ending December 2022 was up 32% compared to December 2019, offsetting much of the loss in international spending due to closed borders.
“International arrivals are returning faster than initially expected, with international spending in December 2022 only 19% lower than in December 2019.”
Lake Taupō Hole In One Challenge and Chris Jolly Outdoors director Hayden Porter said more than 4,000 people had visited the attraction on the shores of Lake Taupō in December, about 10% more than the year before.
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National visitor accommodation occupancy rates show Taupō at the top of the list at 67.6%.
Both companies are owned and operated by Taupō Moana Group Holdings, the commercial arm of the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board.
“Following the reintroduction of international visitors, we’ve seen about a 50% increase in our revenue year over year over the same period with over 95% of our customers coming from out of town,” said Porter.
“About 50% are internationals and 50% Kiwis – as opposed to 100% Kiwis over the past few summers.
“We are seeing similar growth year over year at Chris Jolly Outdoors and have a very positive outlook there as well.”
CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF
The Lake Taupō Hole In One Challenge site will soon be redeveloped with an air-powered wave ball cannon.
Porter said nearly 125,000 balls were hit in December, with one player taking home $10,000 in prize money and more staff being hired to cover the busy Christmas period.
“We are training a number of employees from our other company, Chris Jolly Outdoors, and are committed to growing the local pool of talented people and increasing employment opportunities in Taupō.”
Porter said the outlook was positive and they would soon introduce a new product in the form of a locally built air-powered golf ball cannon for kids and those who have never swung a club before.
“We intend to make this iconic attraction even more iconic… and are confident about further investment,” said Porter.
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Huka Falls Jet’s passenger numbers have “exceeded all expectations”.
“We are currently working with a number of Taupo-based construction companies and the council to move moving forward our redevelopment of the site after receiving strong support for this improvement of our waterfront and the creation of a better public facility.”
Huka Falls Jet business manager Simon Thew said the number of customers visiting the Ngāi Tahu Tourism attraction “exceeded all expectations”.
“We have had a very positive and busy summer period so far, especially given the bad weather and ongoing disruption from Covid-19,” said Thew.
“New Zealanders have been incredible in supporting us and discovering there are world-class experiences right in their own backyard.
“We are also seeing a major shift in the international market and our summer season numbers have exceeded all our expectations.”
Thew said January was their best month since 2008.
“We are cautiously but positively of the view that numbers will continue to grow and that Taupō and New Zealand are poised to become another ‘must do’ for the international traveler.”