Original article published by New Zealand Herald 10 March, 2020.
Tourism and hospitality businesses in Taupō are under the pump.
Now that Omicron is fully entrenched in the community, the impact of lockdowns and Government restrictions is taking its toll on the important local industries.
Rick Keehan, CEO of Amplify, the district's economic development agency, says Kiwis have always had a "tough times don't last, but tough people do" attitude but times might be getting a bit too tough as many locals are now isolating."
Taupō Mayor David Trewavas said there were additional pressures on business owners that local government didn't foresee.
"The 'domestics' made up a big part of the Taupō market anyway. We've got a wonderful product here, it's easy to get to. Having said that, they've been here two or three times now and we're starting to desperately miss the 'internationals'."
And now Trewavas is calling on the Government to pay those businesses a visit and offer some reassurance.