In the year to June 30, centres recorded an overall 7.5% decrease in visitor demand across the district, although revenue was up 3.5%.
Central Otago District Council visitor information centres manager Ingrid Temple said the drop in visitors throughout Central Otago was on a par with decreases nationwide.
She said the recession and, more recently, fears about swine flu had stopped people from travelling as much as they did in previous financial years.
"Our decrease is in line with the national trend given the economic downturn and the impact of swine flu on the [tourism] industry.
But there is a positiveness in the industry that [numbers] will bounce back," she said.
Mrs Temple said profits were up in Central Otago centres because staff were making the most of the visitors they had and had started actively promoting bookings for activities and accommodation within the district.
"We are offering a better service for customers - giving them opportunities to book accommodation and activities in the district while they are at the centres. We've also had quite a focus on our local market - for local residents to use information centres to book things like bus trips, holiday options, and other travel arrangements," she said.
The only centre to record a drop in revenue was Alexandra (-1.1%), while profits were up at Roxburgh (36.6%), Ranfurly (11%), and Cromwell (2.2%).
In the past year revenue at the Alexandra centre was just over $350,000, while at Cromwell it was almost $450,000.
The Ranfurly and Roxburgh centres each generated less than $100,000.
Visitor numbers were down 25% in Alexandra and Roxburgh, and 2.6% in Cromwell, although they were up 15% in Ranfurly.
Alexandra and Cromwell were the most popular visitor centres with 70,000 visitors, while Ranfurly had just over 40,000, and Roxburgh less than 10,000.
Nationally, visitor centre numbers are down between 6 and 8%.
