Queenstown tourism shot up over Christmas with operators in the area reporting a five to ten percent increase in business compared to the same time last year. Air New Zealand almost reached its 2002 and 2003 peak movements of 265 this year with 251 aircraft flights recorded at Milford Sound on 29 December, The Southland Times reported. According to Air Milford owner Hank Sproull the holiday period was among some of the busiest ever experienced, even managing to achieve record days, Stuff.com reported. Mr Sproull said early December was relatively quiet despite the perfect weather, but then “all of a sudden the floodgates opened… there are a lot of people, a lot of Aussies here”. Rydges Queenstown general manager John McIlwain said hotels had been at their busiest in December and did not expect it to slow down this month. Mr McIlwain added business was busier than a year ago with hotel occupancy up 92 to 93 percent in the first week of 2011.  It will not be slowing down anytime soon as the GM noted that February bookings were up 7 percent compared to last year. Read more at www.etravelblackboard.co.nz

Tour operators fear impact of strong Aussie dollar Australia’s inbound tour operators fear that the strong Aussie dollar, which is at record levels against the US dollar, and performing strongly against the euro and UK pound, will have a sting in the tail for business this year. The number of visitors from Britain and the rest of Europe is predicted to decline by as much as 15 per cent in 2011 because of the high Australian dollar and weak economies in several European countries. One of Australia’s largest inbound tour operators, AOT Group, told Fairfax newspapers bookings from Europe were soft and likely to fall 10 to 15 per cent this year. ”Eventually it gets to the point where the euro is really starting to bite,” said Andrew Burnes, AOT’s founder and chief executive. Britain is Australia’s second-largest inbound market, the source of about 700,000 visitors a year. Burnes said tourism operators who relied on overseas visitors in areas such as far north Queensland, Kakadu and Alice Springs were ”feeling the pinch”. Australians, meanwhile, continue to travel overseas in big numbers - 7 million in the year to October. Flight Centre boss Graham Turner has sounded a note of caution, however, “It would appear that consumers have been more cautious over the last six months. My gut feeling is that will continue well in to next year,” he said. Read more at www.travelmole.com