Christchurch backpackers struggle to fill beds as young tourists find city 'desolate'

Thursday, 20 July 2017

All Stars Inn manager Phil Leslie says times are tough in Christchurch backpacker hostels.

Christchurch backpacker hostels and adventure tourism operators are hatching a plan to win back young travellers.

All Star's Inn manager Phil Leslie is the spokesman for Batch – Backpackers and Adventure Tourism Christchurch – a new group of about 25 tourism operators set up to counter the city's bad 'rep' among young people.

Based on comments from 18-year-old Aussie backpacker Katie Brennan, they have their work cut out for them.

Australian backpacker Katie Brennan has visited Christchurch's Re:Start Mall and white chair memorial, but said the city lacked things for young people to do.

'It's quite desolate, it's a bit depressing being here actually,' she said after a day's sightseeing.

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Brennan enjoyed Re:Start mall during her day of sightseeing.

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Brennan, who was on a three-week tour of the country, said she had enjoyed the Re:Start Mall and seeing the post-earthquake rebuild.

She noticed a few lively bars while walking around, but 'wouldn't really even know where to go'. (FILE SHOT)

'Compared to Wellington it's really bad, compared to Auckland, not so bad.'

'I've heard about the [Margaret] Mahy playground which sounds like a lot of fun.

Brennan had heard of the Margaret Mahy Family Playground in central Christchurch, 'which sounds like a lot of fun'.

'In terms of entertainment I've seen a couple of lively bars when I've been walking around, but not many, and I wouldn't really even know where to go.

Batch is surveying guests about their experiences, where they sourced their travel information, and what could be done to improve things like transport.

All Stars Inn manger Phil Leslie says the Kaikoura road closures have had a major impact on Christchurch backpacker hostels.

The results will shape a social media campaign emphasising fun activities in and around the city and Leslie said they would be seeking support from new council events and tourism body, Christchurchnz.

Official statistics showed a continued drop in patronage at city hostels, which were experiencing a tough winter after a difficult summer, with a lot running 20 or 30 per cent occupancy levels, he said.

Street art has exploded in Christchurch post-earthquake.

'That means everybody is bleeding cash, it's not a profitable business at that level.

'Bed numbers in Christchurch, especially in the youth sector, are as bad as they have ever been.'

Leslie said hostels were also coming to grips with a Labour Inspectorate crack down on their long held tradition of offering guests free accommodation in return for work.

Wage bills had increased significantly and he would need to hire extra eight to 10 part-time staff over the summer.

Batch was needed because of the specific circumstances affecting Christchurch's backpacker market, he said.

The closure of the Christchurch Adventure Park following the Port Hills fire was a serious blow, and the closure of State Highway 1 to Kaikoura had changed people's travel patterns.

Previously hostels would often see guests two or three times as they completed loops around the South Island, but the city was no longer a 'must see' destination with young people.

'From what we can gather they're getting to Christchurch and flying out.'

Leslie said there was concern that the new 271-bed Jucy Snooze backpacker at Christchurch airport meant people did not bother going into the city.

However, Jucy's head of marketing Katy Medlock said they tried to educate guests about city attractions so they spent more time there.

'We're going gangbusters to get them to go into town.'

She said occupancy over the winter had fluctuated wildly and while there were nights they were quite full, there had been lean times too.

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