Australia has emerged as the saviour of the $200 million Dunedin tourism industry, with cruise-ship visitors proving a significant bonus, after a year many in the industry would rather forget.
With international visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom, United States, China and Japan falling sharply, a double-digit increase in the number of Australians travelling to New Zealand has helped Dunedin tourism operators ride out the recession.
Tourism Dunedin business development manager Heather Mollins said Australia, which was one of the few developed countries not to go into recession, was now "our most important market".
"Australians are travelling closer to home and more Australians than ever are crossing the ditch.
One in six international departures from Australia is to New Zealand."
Almost all Dunedin attractions which charge admission reported an increase in the number of Australian visitors and cruise-ship customers, and a notable decline in long-haul visitors - particularly from the United Kingdom.
Of the Dunedin attractions charging admission, chocolate proved to be the top Dunedin drawcard, with Cadbury World attracting 119,000 visitors last year, consistent with previous years, operation co-ordinator Kelli Picard said.
And the reason for its popularity?"Everyone likes chocolate . . . every age group likes chocolate," she said.
Taieri Gorge Railway chief executive Murray Bond said international visitors accounted for 70% of passengers, with Australia becoming an increasingly important market.
To capitalise on the increased interest in Dunedin across the Tasman, more marketing should be done in Brisbane, which has five direct flights a week to Dunedin, he said.
"You do this and you will earn $100 back on every $1 you spend on marketing."
Despite a "flat year", passenger numbers were up, Mr Bond said.
Two stately homes - Olveston and Larnach Castle - fared well in the recessionary environment, recording strong numbers.
Olveston manager Grant Barron said more than 60% of visitors came from overseas and although numbers were marginally down, they allowed the attraction, which was managed by a non-profit trust, to be used in a "sustainable way but ensuring there is enough funding to maintain it to an international standard".
Larnach Castle sales and marketing manager Deborah Price said visitors "had been pretty steady".
While wholesale bookings were down, this was offset by more cruise-ship passengers and an increase in free and independent travellers.
Overseas tourists accounted for 60% of castle visitors, which were drawn largely from Australia, Europe and North America, she said.
Speight's Brewery tour manager Chris Snow said although there was a slight fall he had not known what to expect "so we are not too displeased with those numbers".
The brewery tour attracted a heady mix of international tourists - about 70%, comprised largely of Australians, North American and British visitors, with cruise-ship passengers being the "cream on the top".
Mr Snow said the Dunedin Passport, which offered residents discounts on Dunedin tourism attractions, had resulted in locals bringing visitors with them.
"It has been a great initiative."
Also praising the passport scheme was Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours owner John Milburn, who said it had helped keep numbers steady.
Mr Milburn said turnover was 3% down last year compared with the year before.
Also expressing optimism was Royal Albatross Centre manager Sam Inder, who said despite numbers decreasing, he was happy with the volume of tourists, as it resulted in staff being able to provide a better experience for visitors.
Domestic and British tourists remained the biggest markets, each with around a 17% to 20% share of the total market, with Australian, American and German tourists also recording double-digit numbers he said.
Penguin Place, Elm Wildlife Tours, the Chinese Garden, First City Tours and Natures Wonder Naturally reported mixed results from a generally upward growth trend, with some businesses noting that while visitors from the UK might have fallen off, others from regions as diverse as the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia, Russia and South America were filling the gap.
Chris Baillie, manager of Dunedin's newest attraction, Orokonui Ecosanctuary, said most of its visitors were from Dunedin, with more overseas customers expected as the attraction, which opened in October last year, became more established.
A decline in numbers through the Otago Museum's Tropical Forest attraction related to a drop in local visitors, since overseas patrons accounted for only about 9% of total visits, the museum said. h
