Grant Webster - "That would certainly be an opportunity for us"
Retailers and tourism operators are hoping for a busier than normal summer as the two-month closure of the Desert Road may push more traffic into the King Country and Waipā.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru on Monday (January 13) for road reconstruction and replacement of the wooden deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge.
This means between 3000 and nearly 6000 vehicles will need to find alternative routes from north to south and back again over the next two months.
“It will probably push more traffic through our district,” said Waitomo mayor John Robertson.
He hoped established stops like Piopio to be busier as a result of the road closure – it’s not on the direct route around the west side of National Park, but could draw re traffic if visitors decide to add Taranaki to their travels.
“Holy smoke,” said Piopio’s Fat Owl Bar and Eatery and Fat Pigeon Café owner Melanie Simpson when considering traffic heading her way instead of following the NZTA detours.
“I had not even thought of that. That’s going to be very good for us. We are going to have to put extra staff on.”
The timing is excellent for Mini India Takeaway in Rora Street, Te Kūiti, said operator Rajesh Bahunguna. By happy coincidence Bahunguna is opening an Indian restaurant further down the street later this month and he said both businesses would probably benefit.
Te Kūiti New World checkout supervisor Bubz Ruki expected the already busy supermarket to have a couple of busier months as a result.
“We do get a lot of traffic go through… a lot of motorhomes stocking up.”
Bosco Café director Sarb Gill said the Te Kūiti business on State Highway 3 would be putting on extra staff to cope with the demand.
“While road closures can be frustrating for drivers, as a business owner in the King Country, we see it as an opportunity to welcome more travellers to our region,” Gill said.
“We’re eager to share our warm hospitality and stunning scenery with visitors. We’ll be adjusting our staffing to accommodate the influx, and fingers crossed, it will be a great experience for everyone.”
Tourism Holdings Ltd chief executive Grant Webster, whose business operates the Waitomo Glowworm Caves and Waitomo Homestead at the Big Apple, was excited.
“That would certainly be an opportunity for us. We would be very open to welcoming more customers through,” he said.
Spellbound Glowworm and Cave Tours owner-operator Peter Chandler expected the closure to be good for the King Country but with many people booking three to six months ahead he did not have much capacity for extra tourists for his nine tours per day.
“Our tours are full every day,” he said.
Michelle Boddie of Down to Earth Tours had a similar story.
“We are pretty booked until late March.”
Cancellations would create last minute vacancies, she said.
Waitomo Adventures owner-operator Nick Andreef said while the road closure should result in more vehicles travelling through the Waitomo District and stopping, the most likely result would be more congested roads.
“It may not be positive because the roads are not up to it,” Andreef said.
A regional tourism organisation would have made the most of the opportunity, promoting the district.
“We are still in dismay at our councils dropping support for a regional tourism operation,” he said.
Murray Hunt furnishers manager Bev Cooper thought the road closure could bring more people through Ōtorohanga and into the branch there.
“It will be interesting to see,” she said. “Mostly we get people stopping off who are driving Auckland to Wellington.”
She didn’t expect any extra traffic through the Te Awamutu branches which generally attracted Cambridge and Hamilton shoppers.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan also didn’t expect Waipā to benefit from the closure.
“We are not expecting too much of an influx,” she said.
