Media Release
For immediate use, 10 June 2004

New Figures Show Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve Even More Popular

Just released figures show a strong increase in the number of international tourists visiting Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve in North Canterbury.

The statistics show the number of foreign tourists visiting the reserve increased by 16% in the 11 months ended May 2004, when compared with the same period in the previous year.

Foreign tourists now make up 24% of the total number of people enjoying the thermal waters.

Overall, there was a 2% growth in the number of visitors.

“The figures show Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve is more popular than ever before. The team here is delighted,” says Graeme Abbot, the reserve’s General Manager.

“The last year has seen us hone our marketing programme targeting international markets. That work has paid off.”

Graeme Abbot says the rise reflects the increasing number of tourists coming to New Zealand, hiring a campervan or car, and conducting their own tours of the country.

“We are not on a bus route so the figures reflect the increase in the number of independent tourists getting off the beaten tracks,” says Graeme Abbot.
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“Even now winter’s begun campervans are still rolling up to the thermal pools, a few years ago that simply wouldn’t happen at this time of year.”

“We are becoming a real melting pot of people from different cultures with the increase coming from a number of international markets,” says Graeme Abbot.

The number of European tourists visiting the reserve increased by 50%, North America and the UK were each up by 22%, and 23% more Australians visited the reserve.

“Our team enjoys welcoming the wide variety of people coming here, it is fabulous walking around the pools and hearing several languages being spoken.”

“All indications are we will see another increase next year, we will certainly be doing everything we can to make that happen,” says Graeme Abbot.

News of the increase comes just after last month’s announcement that Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve has made the short-list for the New Zealand Tourism Awards for the third time in four years.

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