HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
With lockdowns preventing Aucklanders from visiting their favourite local holiday destinations, 2021 has been a year of uncertainty for holiday home owners around the country. As TIA chief executive Chris Roberts explains, Auckland, as the largest centre of population, has a huge influence on domestic travel.
“We saw this clearly with an immediate reduction in the number of visitors in Queenstown when Auckland’s borders closed. However, we expect to see an immediate and strong demand for travel when Aucklanders can leave their city, resulting from a combination of pent-up demand and normal holiday season travel.”
It’s been a rollercoaster for short-term holiday home owners this year. Bachcare is a major operator in the short-term and holiday accommodation sector and manages 2,400 baches, particularly in the regions, and general manager Matthew Clews says bookings have been up and down. But, he says, there has been a big rise in owner inquiry from Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, central North Island and
