Dunedin’s accommodation and hospitality providers want to know whether the All Blacks versus Springboks test match - scheduled for September 25 at Forsyth Barr Stadium - is going ahead, to "limit the damage".
A cloud of doubt was hanging over the game due to the transtasman bubble.
"I just wish they would tell us because there is a lot of uncertainty around it at the moment; it is most likely to be off so just tell us," Hospitality Association of New Zealand’s Otago president Mark Scully said.
"That will mean we can limit the damage and give everyone time to plan," he said.
Not only would an All Blacks test match bring people to Dunedin, it encouraged Dunedin residents to get out and spend, Mr Scully said.
"People go out for brunch on Saturday and Sunday with friends, they spend money.
"For Dunedin, nothing is bigger than a All Blacks test match," he said.
The economic value of last month’s test against Fiji was estimated to be between $4million to $5million to Dunedin.
Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive Terry Davies told the Otago Daily Times last week, a test against South Africa was likely to be worth twice that.
Vincent George Travel’s manager Rosann Connolly-George, who looks after two Dunedin motels, believed most the city’s motels and hotels would be sold out.
"The two motels I look after are booked out with a wait list and I’d imagine it would be the same across the city, she said.
If the game did not go ahead, it would be a massive blow for the city’s accommodation sector, Ms Connolly-George said.
Amross Motel’s owner Barry Donaldson said it would be "hugely disappointing" if All Blacks versus Springboks test match was cancelled.
The motel was booked out.
Mr Donaldson believed regional towns would also suffer from a cancellation.
"People are going to be driving to get here, they will stop, get fuel and have a pie so it’s not just Dunedin that will miss out," he said.
