The euphoria of the trans-Tasman travel bubble has faded, and the harsh reality of the sudden onslaught of Australian tourists are freaking out some Queenstown businesses out.
Hotel and hospitality leaders in the town say they don't have enough staff to deal with the masses come winter.
Mark Rose, chief executive of Rees Hotel Queenstown, told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he will need between 30-40 extra staff by the end of June when the ski season begins, to help with housekeeping and food.Â
And it's not very easy to find them in New Zealand.
"Even before Covid became a thing, it was difficult. We'd have to get people on working holidays or people who wanted to move to New Zealand to live."
He says that he is looking to get people out of Australia or potentially capping rooms.Â
"I think some people will be looking to working people harder and longer hours and scramble, which is going to detrimental to Queenstown's reputation."
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