Having hundreds of senior cricketers descend on Queenstown provided an economic boost for the resort as well as a sporting shot in the arm, Destination Queenstown says.
The week-long 13th Air New Zealand Golden Oldies Cricket Festival, which concluded with a gala dinner on March 15, brought about 1000 cricketers and their supporters to the resort from seven countries.
DQ marketing general manager Graham Budd said the festival - spread between Queenstown and other southern venues - had generated thousands of additional bed nights in the resort during a traditionally quieter period.
The exact dollar figure the tournament produced for the resort's economy was not known, but the teams' presence was definitely noticed around the resort, he said.
‘‘It was a fantastic event to have and they were great visitors to have in town.''
The spouse entertainment programme and rest days on Tuesday and Thursday allowed players and supporters to take in the sights, he said.
The festival had ‘‘ticked all the right boxes'' by attracting long-stay visitors prepared to spend money, he said.
‘‘The 1000 or so participants, family and friends who have spent the last week in the region are an additional 1000 advocates for the Queenstown experience,'' he said.
Golden Oldies Secretariat representative Paul Tibbutt, of Auckland, said the festival was an ‘‘unqualified success'' and among the most popular in the event's history.
‘‘The cricket festival has been running since 1984 and this is the first time it has sold out,'' he said.
