Norfolk Island-based Hideaway Retreat is excited about the news that a new air carrier, Air Chathams, has recently announced that it will be servicing Norfolk Island this coming September.
The Auckland based Airline will be opening up a regular route to Norfolk Island alongside their regular routes to Chatham islands. Air Chatham has been flying to Norfolk Island for the past year as part of their charter service and now it will become a regular flight with the introduction of this new service.
Bookings on the new flight service can already be made through Air Chathams website or through regular booking agents. A Corvair 580 aircraft will take on this new route and is equipped to take 50 passengers in comfort with a total flight time of just over two hours when leaving from Auckland.
A representative of the Norfolk Island Accommodation company said, “We are thrilled to hear the news that Air Chathams will be servicing Norfolk Island with flights leaving from Auckland every Friday. This makes it so accessible for Kiwis to visit the country without having to fly through Australia first. This place is so full of history, activities and character, all holiday seekers deserve the chance to experience it for themselves and with this new service, it's become so much easier.”
The new charter service for Air Chathams is a result of 12 months of hard work together with Norfolk Island Tourism and the Norfolk Island Regional Council, ironing out details and figuring out the most beneficial arrangement for the visitors to the island.
Promotion is expected to begin in May and will initially target audiences that are more likely to travel to Norfolk Island before broadening the net to include all holiday-makers and travel enthusiasts.
There is a general understanding that the new service will bring increased amounts of visitors to the island due to it being so readily accessible to a whole new market. For all tourist service providers, the increase in numbers will mean a much-welcomed inflation to business and a test of whether their resources can cope.
A representative of Hideaway Retreat welcomes the challenge, “Whether it means we are booked to capacity for months in advance and have to hire additional staff or we are forced to broaden our facilities, we are happy to do it all to ensure our visitors have a comfortable and memorable stay.”
Hideaway Retreat currently offers a full retreat style service with a variety of room sizes suitable for small groups of adults or couples looking for a more secluded and relaxed atmosphere instead of the usual hotel-like environment.
Announcement about the new service on Hideaway Retreat’s company Facebook page was met with unanimous excitement and positive indicators that such a service was dearly wanted and the market was ready for it.
Apart from the expected boost in the economy for the small Island, the increased amount of visitors will help boost the Island’s profile and visibility in the eyes of the world. With many of the main holiday countries like Hawaii and Fiji dominating the market share for island holidays, the increased word of mouth and buzz around Norfolk Island is expected to win over some of that hot market.
Regular festivals and events held on the Island will help bolster this increased activity on the island and demonstrate to the world that it is more than just a holiday destination but a cultural hub in the south pacific. Events like the Food and Country Music Festival are only a couple of notable events out of a year full of equally exciting events that attract visitors to stay on the island.
Past figures have shown that increasing flights to the island have yielded positive increases in tourist numbers as well. When Air New Zealand started adding regular flights to the island from Australia in 2017, the market responded and the resulting demand had the company further increase the regularity of flights. With the new addition of Air Chatham flying directly from New Zealand, it is safe to say the numbers will continue rising.
Those who have questions about visiting Norfolk Island and requiring accommodation can visit Hideaway Retreat online. Questions can be answered via phone or email, all necessary information is provided in the contact section.
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For more information about Hideaway Retreat, contact the company here:
Hideaway Retreat
Karen
+67 235 2005
hideaway@norfolk.net.nf
George Hunn Nobbs Ln, Burnt Pine 2899, Norfolk Island
