While staff shortages remained an issue for many businesses, tourism operators across Fiordland were celebrating the return of international tourism after two challenging summers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It halted international tourists in 2020 and that had a devastating impact on Fiordland businesses as about 75-80% of its market came from international tourism.
However, it seems the tides have turned and many foreigners who travelled to New Zealand have chosen the lakeside town to spend their holidays.
Te Anau-based Southland district councillor and Kiwi Country operator Sarah Greaney celebrated the numbers in her business complex, which included retail shopping and a cafe.
"We definitely have seen an increasing number [of tourists] coming in. In our complex, I would say 95% of people are international customers and we also have a strong influx of domestic visitors because they come to their holiday homes.
"So tourism has definitely returned to the region."
The Te Anau Tennis Invitational today and tomorrow, the Te Anau Rodeo on Friday and the New Year’s Eve events traditionally boost the numbers of people in the region.
The challenge had been staffing, she said.
"Some places are still needing to close two days a week because they don’t have enough staff.
"So inevitably they might not be able to reach pre-Covid levels when previous they operated seven days during this time of the year."
However, she believed this has been the best summer in the past three years.
Fiordland Trips & Tramps owner Steve Norris agreed.
"I probably did not have the chance to breathe to be honest, but this time it is a positive problem. We are flat out."
While his business had quite a steady number of bookings throughout the pandemic thanks to the domestic market, he had been much busier this holiday season, Mr Norris said.
"We probably have 75 to 80% of our bookings coming from international so it is great to have them back into the country."
The same cheerful spirit was shared by Te Anau Top 10 Holiday Park owner Brad Molloy.
The accommodation had been fully booked since November, he said.
"We are doing really, really well. We got more people in the park now than we had this time last year and forward bookings are looking very strong til the end of April.
"I wouldn’t say we are back to pre-Covid levels when we were about 80% of international occupancy.
"I don’t think we are anywhere near that but I can say the domestic market kept really strong.
"I think the region overall is bouncing back."
