In addition, price gouging compared to alternatives, seen a lot of reviews on social media that NZ is very expenses and word gets around.
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Yes that word definitely is getting out. But I think many countries that have seen big growth in visitors, largely due to a clean green environment (yes we can debate the accuracy of that) such as NZ, Norway, Iceland and many others, are all bulging at the seems. No doubt we will have an increased debate about whether we somehow try to control the type of tourists we prefer and how we do it. Being more expensive is not necessarily a bad thing, if people get what they pay for and leave satisfied.
However if you are renting an motor home a lot of your big costs are known at the time you book. Airfares, accommodation and vehicle rental are all known, as would the cost of the interislander if you go between islands. People continue to book and come here. Also slowing growth still means more people coming into the country than the year before.
Exchange rate also makes a big difference - not that long ago the Kiwi was 3 to the pound, 2 to the USD and about 2 to the Euro.
Makes a huge difference for a Pom coming here, or a Yank for that matter. Makes a huge difference also for Kiwi's going off-shore for hols.
But I wouldn't argue about price gouging in some areas......
No - its not about being cheap - it is about being offering value for money. I can't comment on Iceland, but New Zealand sells a lot of hype (clean and green, 100% pure) but delivers rivers which are hardly wade-able, springs which are dangerous to drink from, chlorinated town drinking water like in third world countries, drinking water with unhealthy load of nitrates and beaches which are a health hazard to use, next to a stretched infrastructure and a more and more anti-tourist population. Sure, they like to take the money, but wouldn't it better these people paid up but stayed home?
I think it is time for a cool down period - we need to become cleaner and start to appreciate our guests (aka cash cows) again.
No question in my mind that hiring a decent 6 berth campervan for as decent 10-14 day run around the South Island in peak season is quite an expensive exercise. If I think its quite expensive then most Tourists are sure to be thinking the same. TH2 is also a hole that nobody knows the depth of. I see plenty of risk with this one.
If you have to rent a car for 10-14 day trip in south island and have to find an accommodation for each night to stay plus having to give up the view you get to see when you wake up + sleep and flexibility and fun you get by travelling on a campervan, I don't think that would be that quite expensive :)
I understand where you're coming from that its a unique experience and motels and rental cars are not cheap either and have less flexibility but that doesn't change the fact that travel all the way to N.Z. and then expensive campervan hire in peak season is a "luxury"* discretionary purchase that people make when they feel good about their economic situation and prospects and if they don't feel good about their finances or prospects, guess what, they don't do it !
*Being stuck in a campervan for 10-14 days with kids is not my idea of luxury holiday but each to their own.
That's true Beagle. Making the way down to the south island for a travel itself is a luxury trip already! But if you have already made the decision and planning for a unique experience, a campervan can give you one that is very differentiated from the normal motel/bnb stays unless you are looking at something super-luxury down there :) I have never been that luxury in my life so can't tell what that would be like. I agree with you, each to their own as I dream of going out for camping every weekend with my kid and sitting in a chair sipping my handmade espresso!
THL getting hammered ... down to $4.53 as I type this ... I dread to think where the bottom is on this one
Make it $4.52 - no, actually $4.51. $4.53 was the last big bottom in November 2018, a quite important support level which looks pretty weak at current.
If it doesn't hold (it is the day end price which counts), than we enter nearly uncharted territory - a 3 handle seems possible.
Time for THL supporters to put their money where their mouth is? All hands to the pump :D! Only alternative I could see is: run for the hills!