Thousands leave Christchurch for overseas
Christchurch residents have been leaving the country in droves after the February earthquake, and the tourism sector has formed a new alliance to help rebuild.
More than 2000 Christchurch residents have left the country with little intention of returning since the February earthquake, prompting the region’s tourism sector to respond.
New data from Statistics New Zealand reveals that as of April 30 there had been 2007 permanent and long term international departures from Christchurch since the quake struck on February 22, nearly twice that of the same period a year ago.
The rate is slowing, but more people are expected to leave over the coming months as the city continues to experience almost daily aftershocks.
Permanent and long-term migrants are those planning to leave New Zealand for a year or more.
There have also been nearly 300 fewer arrivals compared to the same time period in 2010, and the region’s tourism body is working overtime to get the city back on track.
“Tourism is one of the most important drivers of our economy so it is vital we get our tourism industry back on its feet as quickly as possible,†said Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Tim Hunter.
His organisation has teamed up with the city council, the international airport and the Ministry of Economic Development in a partnership to rebuild the city’s tourism infrastructure. The newly formed Christchurch and Canterbury Travel and Tourism Partnership will also market the city and region to the world.
“The visitor experience in Christchurch has changed because of the damage wrought by the quake on our cultural and heritage buildings, which were such a memorable part of our city. While there is still a significant amount of rebuilding work to be done, we certainly feel we’re in a good position to welcome visitors back,†said Mr Hunter.
The region’s tourism industry is slowly getting its services and attractions up and running again. The Christchurch Casino reopened in May, while the city’s museum and art gallery are due to reopen in June.
There is also a sense of moving forward as Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism focus on promoting upcoming events including the Christchurch Arts Festival in August, and the Rugby World Cup fan zone – which will go ahead despite the city losing its hosting rights for the tournament.
