Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism CEO Tim Hunter said he was grateful that Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism staff had escaped without injury, but said he was reminded constantly how lucky they were compared to many others.
Many of his team was now back working from alternative premises while their building in central Christchurch was off limits.
Hunter said Christchurch city and Lyttelton had suffered considerable damage in the quake but it was important that tourism businesses outside of the affected areas continued welcoming visitors.
“It’s really important that people don’t look at New Zealand as being totally damaged. The quake has done considerable damage to Christchurch city and Lyttelton, but tourism infrastructure in the rest of the Canterbury province, as well as the rest of the South Island and the North Island, is operating normally.â€
“Canterbury has got some absolute tourism jewels, and the ones outside Christchurch city are functioning perfectly well.
“Akaroa has very little damage and all the tourism services are operating normally. The same goes for Kaikoura, Hamner Springs and Methven.
“Those secondary tourism areas around Christchurch are going to become far more important in terms of their accommodation capacity.â€
