A decline in long-haul international visitors is the biggest challenge facing Queenstown tourism businesses over the next year.
A survey of 27 businesses which attended a Tourism Industry Association (TIA) workshop in the resort last week shows a lack of international visitors as the top issue facing Queenstown tourism operators for the next 12 months.
The workshop, organised by TIA with the support of Destination Queenstown, was a chance for tourism business owners to have their say on the challenges facing the industry.
A. J. Hackett Bungy chief executive Michelle Tratski said the downturn in international visitors was of "major concern" to Queenstown businesses.
"International guests are the bulk of our sector, so the downturn was identified as the No 1 issue," she said.
She said the workshop was a good initiative, with a focus on solutions to issues.
Some solutions offered were to increase funding for marketing to emerging markets such as India, South America and China.
NZone general manager Robynne Williams said the workshop was a good opportunity to put concerns to the Government as a collective voice through TIA.
"Many government departments that tourism businesses interact with have a lack of understanding of what's going on at the coal face," she said.
Other issues raised included the impact of the world recession, labour supply, rising costs and marketing.
The respondents marked broadband as the top infrastructure facility central government should focus its investment on in the next 12 months.
They also said local government could do more to support tourism in the resort by introducing a bed tax for marketing to reduce the cost for commercial ratepayers, and by investing in infrastructure and event promotion.
TIA chief executive Tim Cossar said 55 people participated in the workshop.
He said many voiced frustration at government compliance requirements and delays in dealing with Resource Management Act, Department of Conservation and immigration compliance issues.
The issues and solutions raised at the workshop will be presented to the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, John Key, at TIA's tourism leaders' symposium in Wellington in early October.
The workshop was one of 10 held around the country as part of TIA's new NZ tourism regional leadership series.
The Queenstown workshop also featured practical advice on matters such as online marketing trends, particularly on social networking sites.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Stephen Pahl said the workshop provided an opportunity to identify longer-term challenges which might influence the ability to develop new and emerging markets, impacts of climate change and market expectations related to sustainability.
