Expectations of an influx of Rugby World Cup visitors is buoying confidence among tourism operators surveyed by the Ministry of Economic Development - but not operators in northern Otago and Canterbury.
Almost 60% of 457 national respondents to the Tourism Industry Monitor expected demand to increase in the next three months.
The business confidence index, a measure of profitability expectation, is at 144, its highest level since the monitor began in 2009.
However, the expected increase in demand was positive in the North Island, but negative in the South Island, where the Christchurch earthquake has affected tourism and led to the withdrawal of major games.
The survey's regional operator outlook of expected change in demand over the next three months was -24% to -14% in northern Otago and Canterbury. This compared with -3% to 3% in the Southern Lakes and the rest of the South and -1% to 7% on the West Coast and Marlborough.
Previous issues of serious concern such as the effect of the earthquake, the Japan tsunami and downturns in international markets have all dropped since the last monitor, released in July.
Tourism research and evaluation manager Peter Ellis said the tourism industry on the whole was tapping into anticipation around the cup.
