What we’ve learnt from the pandemic – West Coast operators

3rd June 2022 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

The pandemic provided a time for reflection and change, with sustainability and new approaches to captivating the domestic market front-of-mind for West Coast operators.

The region has been one of the hardest hit by the border closure but there are lessons operators will take into the recovery.

Skydive Franz Josef and Fox Glacier base manager and tandem master Rob Stewart said customer demand dropped 94% but the quiet time allowed the business to get involved with sustainability and conservation efforts.

“This period of isolation from the world has allowed us to develop a deep sense of both appreciation and responsibility for the region which we love sharing with our customers,” he said.

It also provided an opportunity to band together with other operators and accommodation providers for new multi-day packages for the domestic market.

“We will continue to offer these deals until we are back at full capacity after international tourism resumes,” Stewart said.

Te Koha Carving Studio owner Jannene Goodal and her team refocused efforts on social media and digital marketing to reach the domestic market.

“We’ve learned so much and even set up a brand-new website which has led to domestic travellers contacting us, rather than us promoting our business through word-of-mouth,” she said.

“We’re really excited to be hosting more Kiwis and soon international tourists again.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to see so many Kiwis coming down to support the West Coast over the past two years.”

Development West Coast destination and tourism manager Patrick Dault said the pandemic had been tough, but it also gave nature “a chance to recover”.

Through the Department of Conservation’s Jobs for Nature programme, the region’s tracks and facilities were cared for and businesses adapted to sustainable operations.

“A two-year break from international tourism has given us the opportunity to stop, reflect, and reset how we do things with a new focus on sustainability,” Dault said.

“We have learned from mistakes and have made sure that all our tourism practices will preserve the beauty of the West Coast for generations to come.”