Coronavirus

The hard-hit industry breathes a collective sigh of relief over Auckland’s impending return to alert level 1.

The Tourism Futures Taskforce not presenting its final report until April next year is a “disgrace”, says Aroha New Zealand Tours.

Three family members who have tested positive for Covid-19 visited two attractions over the weekend.

The move means gatherings of up to 100 will be allowed in the country’s largest city.

The time was now to evaluate how to turn communities into supporters, rather than critics, of tourism.

The Ministry of Transport is still encouraging physical distancing on public transport even though it is no longer mandatory.

Physical distancing on public transport has eased but masks must still be worn, says PM Jacinda Ardern.

The rules cover entry into the country via air and maritime borders and the operation of managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

The rest of the country will stay at level 2 until at least midnight 16 September.

Wearing a face covering on public transport and planes will be compulsory at Covid-19 alert level 2 and above.

One in five businesses in the Manawatū remain significantly concerned about revenue, says CEDA.

It will take three years for the economy to recover from Covid-19, says the institute.

The collapse of international company STA Travel is a warning to customers and companies that buy travel products to seek suppliers with consumer protection.

Industry urges Govt to review social distancing rules on aircraft as services stop.

The extra four days at level 3 will allow the city to “move down and stay down”, says Jacinda Ardern.

The abrupt cessation of international tourism led to the collapse of 25-year-old inbound tour operator Naturally New Zealand Holidays Limited with around $600,000 owing to unsecured creditors outside the business.

The Government is rolling out additional security systems in its managed isolation and quarantine facilities at a cost of $6m.

It is the second attraction in a week told it has been visited by someone who later tests positive for the virus.

New Zealanders should be more worried about the economic shock of airlines pulling out of the country than the risk of contracting Covid-19 from air crew.

The hotel maintenance worker did not have routine contact with guests, says the Govt.

Westpac and NZIER analyse the cost of lockdowns and the impact on hard-hit tourism.

Two confirmed cases of Covid-19 and three probable cases have been reported in the South Waikato town of Tokoroa.

All community transmission cases will now join those detected at the border and managed-isolation hotels.

Struggling tourism businesses are having to put much-needed bookings on hold.

The family went to a number of tourism experiences in the city last weekend, including Skyline Rotorua’s gondola and luge.

If restrictions continue the Govt should consider releasing some of the $14b it has in reserves to help businesses, says the association.

Businesses across the region will shut for at least three days after four people test positive.

Two recent guests at Novotel Ellerslie have tested positive in Wellington, says Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

Air New Zealand continues to adapt its operations and re-shape its team in the wake of the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis.

A total of twenty-seven local tourism operators and businesses contributed to what was a total prize pool of $17k.

PM’s green-light for domestic travel from Thursday prompts wave of relief from operators, new campaign from RTOs, but warnings of the danger of further delays from TIA.

Former Wayfare boss, Richard Lauder, has called for the scrapping of alert levels arguing they were constructed for an upward path into lockdown, not for a move out of lockdown and a restoration of economic activity.

The Government is continuing to repatriate New Zealanders stranded overseas due to the Covid-19 outbreak, with 39 people from Vanuatu brought home via a New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules.

Arrivals will now go into quarantine or managed isolation.

Tourism Talent has partnered with Go with Tourism in a bid to help the tourism sector bounce back from Covid-19.

Business confidence has plummeted amidst the current Covid-19 crisis, with a new survey showing 67% of businesses expect a deterioration in general economic conditions.

Prepare for a “tumultuous” year ahead with the winners being “those that are set up to thrive in a challenging environment”, says ASB.

BE Reconnected will focus on re-engaging and reconnecting vital industry relationships.

The navigation services provider says international traffic could take two years to recover. 

In the week after the Government’s 23 March lockdown announcement, scheduled airline traffic declined by 47%, or 8600 flights to 4400, compared with the same period last year, says Airways.

International airline seat capacity fell to just 23% of what it was in the first week of April last year, according to travel insights firm ForwardKeys.

Hospitality and accommodation in Christchurch was hardest hit with an 82% decline in spending in the week ended March 29 compared with the same week a year ago.

Nelson City Council is calling for the Ministry of Justice to enable the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority (ARLA) and councils to waive alcohol licensing fees in light of the Covid-19 shutdown.

Northland host families have opened their homes to international students as they sit out the Covid-19 lockdown.

Thanks to a capital raising in October 2019 the company’s cash balance is $42m, says the travel management software company.

Porritt Stadium in Hamilton has been set up as a Covid-19 self-isolation site for freedom campers at the request of the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

The Bus and Coach Association says it is “dumbfounded” by the suggestion of one union organisation that bus companies are ‘double dipping’ on the Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme.

Roads into Egmont National Park will be closed following an order by Civil Defence in a bid to combat Covid-19.

The Thames Coromandel District Council is warning residences against travelling to their holiday homes for the Easter period, saying they need to abide by lockdown rules during the Covid-19 crisis.

A new Government Order has banned hunting while New Zealand remains in level four lockdown during the Covid-19 crisis.