Rotorua is seeing a rebound in visitor numbers since mid last year, reports two council organisations.

Visitor numbers will be a topic of next Wednesday's Rotorua Lakes Council Community and District Development Committee meeting next week.

Members will hear reports from two council-controlled organisations - the airport and the district's economic development agency.

In her report, Rotorua Airport's chief executive Nicole Brewer says the airport is ahead of its budget for the July 2022 to January 2023 period, mainly due to increased landing fees and lower-than-expected operating expenses.

While there is less aircraft movement in that timeframe, due to wet-weather days, the number of passengers is up and eight per cent ahead of budget.

There is, after depreciation and before tax, a net surplus of $910,776, while it had budgeted for a surplus of $43,897.

Brewer says passenger traffic is recovering post-pandemic but lingering effects remain.

'While we are seeing good passenger growth and strong load factors, Air NZ passenger numbers and capacity are well behind pre-Covid levels due to Air NZ capacity constraints, primarily driven by a shortage of pilots.”

She says it expects these constraints to ease throughout the year, therefore increasing the number of flights to and from the city's airport.

RotoruaNZ also provided a report for the same period.

Chief executive Andrew Wilson provided highlights for the quarter including its events marketing, familiarisation hosting and tourism and hospitality capability building.

Information in the update included how ticket sales at the i-Site has 'rebounded strongly” over December and January, approaching 60 to 70 per cent of pre-Covid levels.

International visitors were mostly from Australia, the US, UK and Germany, while domestic users were mostly from Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch.

Wilson notes how operators are still facing staff shortages that impact opening hours, with some unable to open seven days a week.

'The weather has had an impact on sales with cancellations in some instances and rafting is one attraction that has been severely affected.”

In a provided financial update; RotoruaNZ is tracking about $100,000 above its year-to-date budget of -$275,680.

This is down to improved trading and reduced staff numbers.

Committee members will also be asked to approve and make operative Plan Change 3 – Significant Natural Areas to the Rotorua District Plan.

The change aimed to protect areas identified as significant indigenous vegetation or significant habitat for indigenous fauna.
- Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air.