Rotorua set for Asian tourist boom

Rotorua is set to see an influx of Asian tourists this summer.Over December and January, Korean Air will increase seating capacity by 30 per cent and increase flights between Auckland and Seoul from seven to 10 times each week - raising total capacity from 3500 seats to 6600.

Auckland Airport spokesman Glenn Wedlock said the influx of Asian and European tourists from Korean Air's network would be advantageous for cities like Rotorua, which had strong tourism infrastructure.China Southern Airlines has also just launched its first direct daily service between China and New Zealand operated between Guangzhou and Auckland.

Guangzhou is China's third largest city and the new services create an additional 90,000 passenger seats a year.Some Asian businesses spoken to by The Daily Post said Asian tourists flocked to Rotorua to experience the Maori culture and geothermal activity.Okja Kim, director of Quality Clothes and Souvenirs on Tutenekai St, said Asian tourists especially liked to "soak" in the city's hot pools like those at Polynesian Spa.

She said the city's geothermal activity also attracted them.Destination Rotorua Marketing's Tania Bui said the Asian market was important to Rotorua."From an Asian market perspective, Rotorua is a 'can't miss it' when you come to New Zealand."Ms Bui said 92 per cent of Chinese tourists who visited Auckland came to Rotorua.

She said while the Rugby World Cup had disrupted normal flows, the city was still relatively geared up tourism-wise.She hoped that upscaling done in the city during the World Cup could be utilised during the summer.Agrodome director Warren Harford was anticipating a great summer season for Rotorua.

He said extra flights would increase patronage to the city."Most Koreans who come to New Zealand come to Rotorua."I'm expecting a good season, especially out of the Asia market."Air New Zealand's Mark Street said transtasman flights from Rotorua to Sydney were in line with expectations for the summer period.

"We are just entering the time when most people are booking their summer trips to Australia and at this early stage bookings are in line with expectations."New Zealand Hotel Council chairman Fraser McKenzie said Rotorua's hotels were holding a positive outlook for December and January.

"Access is always the key to success in overseas markets and the increased capacity from Korean Air should see an increase in Korean visitors to New Zealand and specifically Rotorua as a major cultural destination for Korean visitors."Meanwhile moteliers are down on projected bookings compared to previous years.

Operator of the Cedarwood Lakeside Resort and chairwoman of the Rotorua Association of Moteliers, Fiona Suurenbroek, said motel bookings across the city were down 20 to 60 per cent. However bookings had picked up since the slow period around the Rugby World Cup which she hoped was an indication of things to come."There's still Raggamuffin and the [national] Maori Golf Tournament to go."

Source - rotoruadailypost.co.nz