As Christchurch heals, investment window opens

Singapore

CHRISTCHURCH'S healing tourism industry may present new opportunities to foreign investors as New Zealand's third largest city recovers from its devastating 2011 earthquake.

At least, that is what Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) CEO Tim Hunter is hoping. In Singapore recently to promote the city's hospitality industry, he spoke of the "at least 750,000 more room nights" that are required over the next five years to meet projected visitor levels.

"Christchurch is short on hotels as we don't have enough capital in the city. A hotel typically costs NZ$30 million to NZ$60 million (S$30 million to S$60 million) to build, and there isn't enough money in Christchurch to do that. We need overseas investment help," said Mr Hu…