Tourists are heading to the South Island's West Coast in their droves after the devastating east coast earthquake disrupted their holiday plans, locals say.
The weekend's magnitude 7.5 quake all but cut off Kaikoura - one of the country's most famous tourist destinations - and sent people scrambling from holiday hot-spot Hamner Springs, as well as the region's many other attractions.
On the West Coast, locals are reporting a huge increase in traffic volumes and tourists coming to stay.
West Coasters spoken to by the Herald were highly sympathetic of the plight of quake-stricken east-siders. But the influx of numbers is providing an unexpected financial boost to a region that has had more than its share of adversity and economic insecurity in recent years.
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said there had been a "massive" increase inquiries throughout the region since the quake.
"We don't want to gain from the misery on the other coast and in Wellington but the fact is that because of the massive upheavals of the rail system and the road over there, there is already a noticeable increase in tourism coming our way," he said.
"Tourism was already booming here on the West Coast - it's the big game in town at the moment - so this is going to put pressure on West Coast tourism but we can cope, there's no doubt about that. It's amazing what it's doing for our economy here."
Mr Kokshoorn advised people planning to visit the area to book accommodation in advance as there was the risk they wouldn't be able to secure a bed otherwise.
Some hotel and motel owners spoken to by the Herald said they had an initial flurry of cancellations following the quake but it has more than picked up in the last day or two.
