1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: And yes we're in bad economic times, well most of 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: the country is, but there's still one spot breaking in 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: the cash that is Queenstown. Their top spots are back 4 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,680 Speaker 1: in top form, with tourism operators reporting strong numbers right 5 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 1: across the board this winter season. So I'm joined now 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: by the Mayor of Queenstown, Glenn Lewis, who should be 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: a happy man. 8 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 2: Are you, Glenn very happy? 9 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:21,639 Speaker 3: Injury yourself? 10 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,920 Speaker 1: I'm very good. I'm very good. But yeah, Queenstown does 11 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: seem to be back on its feet. How come it's 12 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: excelling this winter season. Didn't do so last winter? 13 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 3: Oh look, I think we did pretty well last winter. 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 3: We I think Queenstown may leave it to keep itself 15 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 3: known during the pandemic years and with our trains Tairsman cousins. 16 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:41,959 Speaker 3: So I think we're starting to see the. 17 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 2: Reward for that. 18 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: All right, our tourists heading to New Zealand just for 19 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: your town or do you think that people come into 20 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: your town out then going other places? So there's a 21 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: trickle down. 22 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 3: Well, I'm hoping they go to other places. But yeah, 23 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 3: it does seem we're rather strong. Our tins Tairsman friends 24 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 3: are certainly coming up here and the numbers. I think 25 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 3: the latest that we got from the airport we were 26 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 3: up one hundred and forty five percent on pre COVID 27 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 3: numbers on our trans Tasman route. So yeah, we're doing well. 28 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: Are these wealthy tourists? I mean, I know you've got 29 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: a one hundred and thirty million dollar hotel development, so 30 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: money is going in. I was just wondering whether you're 31 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: actually targeting the wealthy people or you'll take anybody. 32 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 3: Oh, it was a range of visitors. 33 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: But look, we were there the better off people, but 34 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 2: we need the back backpackers as well. 35 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 3: They may help with the seasonal work. They usually pour 36 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 3: the pints, as we usually say, absolutely so. 37 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: Of course we've always talked about the fact that you 38 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: might be possibly over touristed, that your infrastructure is creaking 39 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: and struggling, so you're getting on top of that. 40 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's probably the challenge we do have, but big 41 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: opportunity as well. Infrastructure needs to happen at the same 42 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 3: time as growth and the tourism numbers. But we're also 43 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: a fast growing residential growth town as well, so we 44 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 3: get the double whammy. But we've got to keep on 45 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: top of the infrastructure. 46 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: Is the waste water debate all over and done with. 47 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 3: It's still trucking along. Let's say it's an environment court 48 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 3: coming up, so we'll see how that goes. 49 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: Well. Good luck and congratulations and having a good winter season. 50 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: I'll be down there in about a month, Glynn, and 51 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: I think Glenn Lewis is the mayor of Queenstown. 52 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 3: For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live 53 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 3: to news Talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, or 54 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,399 Speaker 3: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.