Baldwin St shop closes after drop in tourist numbers

The Baldwin Street Tourist Shop in Northeast Valley, in Dunedin. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
The Baldwin Street Tourist Shop in Northeast Valley, in Dunedin. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Plummeting American and Asian tourist numbers are forcing Dunedin's Baldwin Street Tourist Shop to close.

Co-owner Kelli Picard said it was mainly Asian and American tourists who spent money at the store, but the Christchurch earthquake and the global recession had discouraged them from visiting New Zealand - and more importantly, their shop. She said they bought the shop just before the earthquake and the recession hit.

''It was just really bad luck - bad timing,'' she said.

''When we first started, it was great.''

However, she said Asian and American tourists were no longer coming in the same numbers to visit the world's steepest street.

She said the store still attracted plenty of Australian tourists, but they did not spend to the same extent.

''They just buy a 90c postcard. They aren't as interested in buying toy sheep or kiwis.

''We're not seeing anywhere near as much tourist buses either.

Mrs Picard said the lease on the premises would run out in August and she did not intend to renew it.

''It will be sad to see it close.''

Ritchies Coachlines regional manager Malcolm Budd said if the proposed 28-storey $100 million waterfront hotel opened in Dunedin, it would go a long way to helping the situation, because he believed it would attract a large number of Asian tourists to Dunedin.

However, in the interim, he said parking in the Baldwin St area was an issue, particularly for large tour buses on busy days, and during the cruise-ship season most tour buses just passed by Baldwin St on their way to another destination.

He believed the Dunedin City Council should make more parking spaces available.

''It's a bit of a shame that it's closing. Baldwin St is a popular destination for tourists.

''Anything to do with a tourism business closing down is a real shame.''

Headfirst Travel owner Ralph Davies agreed.

He said the DCC could ''put some thought'' into better parking in the area.

''If we can think of ways to attract more buses to the area, that would be good.

''I think it will be quite sad if no-one takes it over.

''There's an opportunity there for someone with fresh eyes to take it over.''

DCC Business Development adviser Sophie Barker said 17%-20% of tourists visited Baldwin St, so it was important she investigate the parking situation.

The investigation would take place as part of the cruise industry debriefing aimed at improving operations for the 2013-14 cruise-ship season, she said.

- john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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