Christchurch tourism bounces back

It is business as usual for tourist operators in Christchurch and Canterbury as the region bounces back from the 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

The quake struck at 4.30am on September 4 and while it caused severe damage in small pockets of Christchurch, the majority of the city escaped lightly and is back up on its feet.

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Ian Hay said the airport, hotels, and key visitor attractions in Christchurch such as the International Antarctic Centre, the Christchurch Gondola, and Blackcat Cruises have emerged from the quake largely undamaged and were operating as normal.

Less than a week after the quake it was estimated that 98% of accommodation providers and tourist attractions in Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region were up and running.

Spring blooms in Christchurch
"The welcome mat is still out,’’ Mr Hay said. "Spring is traditionally a popular time for visitors to come to Christchurch because the city is in full bloom and we hope this year will be no exception. We want people to still come here.’’

While parts of Christchurch’s city centre were cordoned off in the days immediately following the September 4 quake, those cordons have been removed and visitors can now move freely through the city centre.

Most bars and restaurants (including 14 of the 20 restaurants taking part in the Feast of Canterbury restaurant challenge) have re-opened, as have the bulk of the city’s shops. Public transport is also up and running, as is the city’s tourist tramway.

Christchurch Arts Centre
Christchurch’s historic Arts Centre, which stands at the heart of the city’s cultural precinct and is home to a popular weekend arts and craft market, was damaged in the quake but it too has re-opened, although parts remain off-limits to the public while repair work is carried out.

Some other historic buildings were also damaged in the quake but the city’s newer buildings survived largely intact.

The newly opened Marque Hotel Christchurch, which is in the heart of the central city and occupies 15 floors of the South Island’s tallest building, even managed to serve up breakfast to its guests the morning the quake struck.

"Not even a glass or a bottle moved in our bar area during the main quake and aftershocks. The building responded just as it was designed to," says the hotel’s manager Brad Watts. The only damage reported at the hotel was some small cracking in the interior plasterboard walls of some of the guest rooms.

Spring skiing
Mr Hay said he hoped the quake would not put people off visiting Christchurch and Canterbury.

There were lashings of snow on the region’s ski fields and all the visitor attractions in the wider Canterbury area were operating at full capacity so there was no reason for people to cancel or postpone their holiday plans.

"This is still a great region to visit and Christchurch city will bounce back from this unfortunate event stronger than ever. Welcoming visitors and taking a ‘business as usual’ approach is the best tonic for our community as the city and region returns to normal,’’ Mr Hay said.

UK tourists talk about Christchurch

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