Shantytown marketing manager Nickelle Egan said each year the tourist attraction 10km south of Greymouth put up special decorations and the Marsden Valley Education Centre ran a Chinese education programme. Today the heritage park will host a parade for Chinese guests, and Chinese visitors who dined at Shantytown would each receive a small gift.
"It’s a busy time for us. We can see multiple bus groups come through," Mrs Egan said.
Tourism West Coast chief executive Jim Little said various tourism operators around the region were marking the event in their own way. For instance, Chinese lanterns had gone up at the Greymouth Railway Station.
"Christchurch Airport is predicting record numbers coming through and we’re expecting to see good numbers, as well," Mr Little said.
