Mixed effects on post-eruption tourism

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 618, 28 December 1995, Page 3

Mixed effects on post-eruption tourism

Without a doubt the eruption ofMt Ruapehu brought the name "New Zealand" onto the lips of news presenters around the world. It seems that most presenters got one fact straight - the

mountain did erupt. It also seems that some facts were fabricated to make the story more interesting. The question is, will the negative publicity keep tourists away this summer

or did the eruption result in free advertising reinforcing the brand name "New Zealand" to potential visitors? Bill McDonald, marketing manager at the Powder-

horn Chateau, thinks that the perception of the mountain being dangerous is finished, as is it's drawcard quality. "I don't think the eruption will develop any extra people this summer" he says. The marketing manager for the Ruapehu District Council, Bruce Rollinson, says the international publicity received will be good for the region in the long term. Mr Rollinson carried

out some informal market research with foreign groups at tourist attractions in an effort to gauge their perceptions. "In general, these international visitors had come to this area because of the eruption," Mr Rollinson said of his findings. Dave Masey, General Manager for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts said the sightseeing and guided walks to the crater on Whakapapa will begin on 16 December and

go through to 28 April. Mr Masey is expecting a heightened interest in sight seers wanting to go on the chairlifts and people going to the crater, because of the

eruption. He said there is still an exclusion zone around the immediate vicinity of the crater but adds that the mountain has settled significantly.