Top 10 parks upgrade ahead of summer influx

Camping ground owners in the TOP 10 Holiday Parks group say they have invested more than $5 million ahead of the summer season.

TOP 10 canvassed members to ask what improvements they were making to facilities such as swimming pools, mini-golf courses, playgrounds and kids’ games rooms. 

Other upgrades include modernising accommodation facilities, outdoor amenities such as BBQ areas and landscaping, and refurbishing kitchens and laundries. 

TOP 10 Holiday Park chief executive David Ovendale says in a prepared statement the investment represents a boost for local economies, which will have used local contractors to carry out their work. 

Mr Ovendale says the industry is expecting a bumper season. This research supports independent research carried out by the Holiday Parks Association (HAPNZ) that found that business confidence among holiday parks was on the rise. 

According to HAPNZ’s latest research 66% of respondents at their annual confidence survey are more optimistic than pessimistic.

Highlights include:

• Coromandel TOP 10 has spent $420,000 on a new shaded BBQ area around the pool, play area and new apartment facilities.
• Papamoa TOP 10 invested $850,000 in a new conference and events centre.
• Whanganui River TOP 10 built a new reception area and shop and play area for children totalling $91,000.
• TOP 10 Kaikoura spent $140,000 on a new outdoor game for children, revamped gardens and carried out renovations to some accommodation facilities. 
• TOP 10 Te Anau spent $200,000 on a new sauna and spa development, children’s game room, a jumping pillow, spa and sauna.

The holiday parks around New Zealand represent 20% of all commercial guest nights in New Zealand. 

The number of overseas visitors arriving on holiday (98,100) to New Zealand increased 14% in October 2014 compared with October 2013, Statistics New Zealand says.

The number of visitor arrivals to New Zealand in total for October 2014 (210,600) increased 8% compared with October 2013.
In the October 2014 year, visitor arrivals numbered 2.82 million, up 5% from the October 2013 year.

The biggest increases were from Australia, the US, China, and Germany.
New Zealand resident travellers departed on 207,000 overseas trips in October 2014, up 7% from October 2013. This is the highest-ever number of New Zealand traveller departures for an October month.

These travellers took more trips to Australia, the US and Fiji. In the October 2014 year, New Zealand travellers departed on 2.26 million overseas trips, up 3% from the previous year.

Monthly net migration continues to break records.
New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 5200 migrants in October 2014.