Holiday parks in the Queenstown Lakes district enjoyed a "steady flow" of campers during the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but not the numbers predicted, and busy days were limited to three or four a week.
The verdict was given when the first-quarter financial report for the council's four holiday parks was tabled at the finance and corporate committee last week.
Holiday parks manager Greg Hartshorne reported the Queenstown Lakeview, Arrowtown Born of Gold, and Wanaka and Glendhu Bay parks showed some income growth on last year, but this was because of a better understanding of the latter two parks gained after operating them for a year and the patronage of RWC visitors.
"With the school holidays being delayed and unfortunately falling outside the ski season, the true financial impact will not be seen until after the next quarter, when these figures are included.
"Those who were following their [RWC] teams around the South Island definitely boosted our numbers in the short term, but whether they made up for the numbers that would normally have travelled at this time, we may never know," he said.
However, business had "quietened considerably" and he predicted trade would continue to be difficult based on bookings.
Arrowtown and Glendhu Bay, the more domestic market parks, would continue to feel the effects of the Canterbury earthquakes for some time yet, he said.
"A lot of Christchurch people are waiting on insurance payouts before thinking of domestic travel."
