The organiser of this weekend's Tauranga National Jazz Festival says the event will face new challenges this year.

Festival director Arne Herrmann says the country is still feeling the affects of the Christchurch earthquake and rising commodity prices such as fuel are impacting on discretionary budgets.

'There's quite a bit of a different mind set of what you want to do with your discretionary income.”

The Strand was busy at the 2010 Downtown Carnival during the National Jazz Fest.

But Arne says the festival does offer value for money.

'We have a huge community element in the festival. The Downtown Carnival and the TV3 Jazz Village, those are either free or accessible with a small entrance fee.

'I think those figures will go up – I think people will choose that as their preferred entertainment option.”

The preparations for the festival are almost complete, with only a few last minute details to finalise.

'There's a few minor things to sort out like signage, last minute marketing and publicity, artists that have to be picked up from airports.”

About 60,000 people are expected to attend this year's festival.

Several thousand tickets have been sold so far, but Arne expects 50 per cent of tickets to be sold this week and during the event.

'It always makes you wonder if it's going to happen in the last week or not.”