Accommodating visitor needs
A recent study of visitors to Lake Waikaremoana gave some interesting insights into accommodation patterns. Some of the findings are highlighted below.
Campground at Lake Waikaremoana
Image: Dept. of Conservation
Younger visitors have more flexible itineraries…
The average age of all the visitors included in the study was 48. Younger visitors were less likely to have booked accommodation than were older visitors.
- Those who had booked all of their accommodation before arriving in the region had an average age of 51.
- Those who had booked only some of their accommodation had an average age of 45.
- Those who knew where they wanted to stay but had not booked their accommodation in advance had an average age of 44.
- Those who were not sure where they would spend at least one of the nights during their trip to the region had an average age of 33.
- Those staying in Department of Conservation huts or campsites were also younger than average at 40 years, but those staying in the local motorcamp were slightly older with an average age of 50.
Domestic visitors book in advance…
Only 30% of international visitors to the Lake Waikaremoana region had booked their accommodation in advance whereas 60% of domestic visitors had done so.
The further ahead visitors book their accommodation, the longer they stay in the region. Visitors who made an advance booking stayed an average of 3.5 nights but visitors who booked more than 6 months in advance stayed an average of 5.3 nights.
- 66% of all visitor nights were booked in advance.
Rogers Hut, Whirinaki
Image: Te Urewera Rainforest Route
Oputao Marae
Image: Te Urewera Rainforest Route
Visitors don’t understand marae stays…
To read more about visitor accommodation preferences and bookings check out the full study report ‘A profile of tourism in the Lake Waikaremoana region’. As well as accommodation the report has sections on motivations and repeat visits, travel and planning, activities and guiding. It is available to download (free of charge) from: http://www.mwpress.co.nz/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=693
Many international visitors did not understand the word ‘marae’. Some visitors (both international and domestic) knew what a marae was but did not understand that they might be able to pay to stay at one as a visitor. When asked about marae stays these people talked about needing to be invited to stay at a marae as a guest. Operators wishing to offer marae stays to visitors will need to make sure that their advertising explains clearly what is being offered and that all visitors are welcome.To read more about visitor accommodation preferences check out the full study report ‘A profile of tourism in the Lake Waikaremoana region’. The report has short sections on fishing, hunting, horse trekking, kayaking, tramping and other activities as well as accommodation, transport and trip planning. It is available to download (free of charge) from here:
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