PM Recognises Cardrona’s Contribution To Tourism

The Prime Minister today opened Cardrona’ Alpine Resort’s new $4.5 million chairlift, the Whitestar Express and in her opening speech congratulated the ski area on its achievement of becoming New Zealand’s most popular ski resort.

The Prime Minister said she was very impressed with the level of investment Cardrona had made both in the new Whitestar Express and last year’s $3 million Children’s Alpine Centre. She went on to say this investment significantly helps put New Zealand on the world map as a winter sports destination.

“One of the top priorities of the New Zealand tourism strategy is to spread visitors beyond the summer months into the shoulder season and into the winter. A strong winter sports culture and good facilities helps us to do that. The better the facilities the better the yield and the key part of the strategy is to ensure the value or yield from tourism products grows faster than the numbers.” She continued that the number of jobs provided by the ski area was of enormous economic benefit to the Southern Lakes area.

She also expressed a desire to have more Kiwis out doing activities instead of turning into a nation of couch potatoes. Having such a well-known winter sports destination with the facilities to start children skiing at a young age could only help to create a healthier nation in the future.

Latest figures released by Cardrona Alpine Resort have shown it attracts over $39 million1 of consumer spending to the district and creates approximately 1,6002 jobs for local and visiting workers, including over 400 on the ski field itself.

Based on research by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute3, the figures indicate Cardrona’s vital importance to Wanaka’s economy and the New Zealand tourism industry as a whole.

“This is just the direct economic impact on Wanaka and Queenstown,” said Nigel Kerr, spokesperson for Cardrona. “It doesn’t take into account the downstream spending at visitor entry points such as Christchurch. There is no doubt about the importance of tourism to New Zealand’s economy. It’s in recognition of this importance that Cardrona is constantly updating its facilities to maintain an international standard.”

Cardrona’s own research shows it attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world including USA, Europe, Asia and Australia as well as from throughout New Zealand.

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1 July 2004

1 Adjustments as per New Zealand Tourism Forecasts Summary Document – Tourism Research Council.
2 $1 million tourist expenditure = 41 jobs created
3 The Local Economic Impact of NZ Ski Areas: Mt Hutt & Methven by Tourism Research Institute

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