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New Zealand: an archipelago facing an influx … of tourists

 

In the land of the All Blacks, the year will not be white in terms of tourism. While the Covid-19 epidemic has hit the whole world since March and almost wiped out tourist flows, the New Zealand archipelago of the Chatham Islands is experiencing a different type of crisis. In the middle of November, he faces a far too large number of tourists.

Like everyone else, New Zealand, a time preserved by the epidemic before being affected in turn, has closed its borders to a large number of travelers. The Chatham archipelago has thus become the ideal destination for Kiwi tourists: slightly removed from the rest of the country, isolated and unspoiled, this small archipelago close to the date line promises New Zealanders a semblance of travel. by remaining officially in the country. No quarantine or Covid test to be carried out to go on a weekend filled with a genuine feeling of escape.

Full tourist season well in advance

As CNN explains, the Chatham Islands have 700 inhabitants and typically receive 2,000 tourists a year, a modest number due to their isolation from the rest of the country. But in 2020, this isolation suddenly became attractive. Demand therefore quickly outstripped the island’s significantly meager supply. As it is rather expensive to get there, tourists usually represent an elderly crowd seeking peace and there are no private beaches or cheap hotels on site. According to the local tourist office, around 150 beds are available on the archipelago, divided into hotels, guest houses or Airbnb residences. Camping is strictly prohibited there. There are only a few flights a week to get there from the country.

The tourist season usually starts in November and runs until March, which is summer in the southern hemisphere. But this year, due to the pandemic … Everything on the archipelago is reserved and full until June 2021.

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