Magazine - Queenstown $60m boost

By Editor in Golf on 25th Jan 2010 8:00

The NZ Open is likely to have injected an estimated $60 million in "direct spend" into the Queenstown economy once next week's third tournament at The Hills is over, organisers said.

Tuohy Associates sales and marketing director Mike Godinet said yesterday Destination Queenstown estimates prepared after the first of the three-tournament rights deal in November 2007 showed a direct spend of almost $20 million to the Queenstown economy. That tournament attracted 34,000 people.

The March 2009 Open battled a cold first two days and clashed with two other major local events to attract 26,000, and Mr Godinet said a bumper crowd of more than 30,000 was predicted for next week's tournament.

Mr Donald said Jacks Point had been enjoying a "noticeable increase" in Australians during the past few months. Direct trans-Tasman flights and the championship course's competitive A$80 (NZ$100) fees had prompted many Aussies to fly over for summer golfing holidays to escape their heat, he said.

Other courses were similarly heavily booked with barely any tee space left around the Open, and all agreed the event provided a significant boost to the local economy.

Playing Around New Zealand managing director Will Owen, of Christchurch, said Queenstown was a huge drawcard for his totally international clientele. "Queenstown's buzzing for us at the moment, especially Jacks Point. There's been unprecedented demand."

Golfers could stay in Queenstown as a base for seven nights and play a lineup of top local courses for competitive prices and enjoy sightseeing activities. Mr Owen said that now with The Hills also opening up, even though it was much dearer at $500 a round, that added to the attraction. He was bringing a group of 20 to play The Hills in March.

The NZ Open had raised Queenstown's golf tourism profile tremendously and attracted new clientele who watched it on the golf channel overseas. But they did not come here to watch golf and would rather play, he said.

Arrowfield Apartments duty manager Carlyn McLintock said there was no way they could accommodate any more people during the Open, "not even in a wardrobe". Residents in her neighbourhood had even been coerced into rent-ing their homes out while on holiday to cater for the overload.

Millbrook Resort had some large group bookings and only a few rooms in its Village Inn free leading up to the Open.


Source & More: www.stuff.co.nz

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