Kiwi hospitality has risen to the challenge as locals rally
around international visitors grounded in New Zealand by the
Icelandic volcanic eruption.
On Monday (19 April) Tourism New Zealand launched a Facebook
page - www.facebook.com/StrandedinNewZealand - which
is providing Kiwis with a central place in which to offer
accommodation and special deals to travellers stranded in New
Zealand.
Offers from Kiwis to stranded international visitors have ranged
from discounted accommodation to free family baches (holiday
homes), spare beds or couches, facials, food and transport.
A Kiwi comedian has even offered complimentary tickets to the
opening night of his Comedy Festival show.
In Auckland - where most of the Europe and UK-bound travellers
are stranded -Tourism Auckland is working to match up more than 130
kind-hearted Kiwi hosts with visitors needing a bed.
So far, 51 travellers - families with kids, retirees and
backpackers - have been welcomed into Auckland homes.
Stranded in New Zealand
Tourism New Zealand's Facebook page has received an overwhelming
response from the public and tourism industry, with expressions of
sympathy as well as offers of practical help.
Chris Hoddinott is offering to show people around Invercargill,
while Cally Jackson of Ponsonby is offering dinner and a chat to
"some awesome Kiwis", though she has no rooms available.
New Zealand businesses have responded with accommodation and
travel discounts such as bed and breakfast at backpackers rates,
free dorm beds, half-price bus tickets, and heavily discounted or
free entry to popular tourist attractions.
Among the tourism operators who have got behind the initiative
are SkyJump at SkyCity, offering two-for-one SkyJumps, and Auckland
Bridge Climb and Bungy, offering NZD99 bridge climbs and bungy
jumps.
This morning the page had more than 1,300 fans. Chatter on
social media sites including Twitter (#strandedinnz) has helped drive interest in the
initiative, and by yesterday afternoon similar Facebook pages had
been set up in Australia and Estonia.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive says Tourism New Zealand had
been working with the industry to help co-ordinate offers of
support for stranded travellers.
"The Facebook page provides a centralised forum and another
communication platform for the tourism industry and travellers to
share information and offers of help to make visitor's time in New
Zealand as enjoyable as possible, despite any delays."
Air travel uncertain
Air travel is likely to remain uncertain - at least for the next
few weeks - as the ash cloud from the eruption of the
Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to spread over European and
British skies.
Air New Zealand has just announced that it will begin to operate
services to and from London from this afternoon, following advice
from the UK authorities that UK airspace has been reopened.
The European Union agreed yesterday (20 April) to partly re-open
part of northern Europe's air space, after dividing the skies into
three "zones".
Media reports are that there are more than 2,000 international
visitors in New Zealand who have been impacted. However, it is
estimated that around 8,000 British and European travellers arrive
in New Zealand each week during April, so larger numbers of
travellers could be affected.
Volcanic ash is a major hazard to airplanes and westerly winds
have been carrying ash from Iceland all over Europe. Smoke and ash
from the eruption reduces visibility for pilots and debris from the
air could get into aircraft engines, causing them to shut down.
www.facebook.com/StrandedinNewZealand