Queenstown ‘myths’ rebutted

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 6

Queenstown ‘myths’ rebutted

Special correspondent Myths that Queenstown is too expensive and has “no room” are keeping New Zealanders away from their own back-yard holiday resort, according to the general manager of Queenstown Resorts, Ltd, Mr Barry Fischer. Many of these “misconceived ideas” had been planted in people’s minds through bad publicity from outside news media often not familiar with Queenstown, Mr Fischer said. The Tourist Hotel Corporation’s “over-enthusi-asm” to sell its new hotel to the public might also have exaggerated the problems of a shortage of first-class accommodation during peak periods, he said.

There were plenty of beds at present but tourists were receiving the wrong message.

Somewhere, the “true message” about Queenstown had got lost, Mr

Fischer said. Queenstown Resorts would offer hotel rooms at all three of its Queenstown establishments for less than $4O a night.

Other Queenstown tourist firms and retailers also planned to show that Queenstown was not expsenive. An “Affordable Queenstown” package had been put together, he said. This would include discounted airfares through Mount Cook Airlines and cheaper sight-seeing and retail goods for clients. Many people did not realise that 80 per cent of tourist business in Queenstown Resorts’ hotels was from tour groups and heavily discounted, said Mr Fischer. Under the “Affordable Queenstown” programme, rooms would be available from $29.95 a night. The promotion will be launched in Auckland on

February 11. The Minister of Tourism, Mr Moore, has been invited to open

it. A follow-up launching will be held in Christchurch on February 17.