Holiday bookings are dropping like Autumn leaves from a tree according to some Bay of Islands businesses.
The region is currently in red on the traffic light system and people travelling their way this summer will have to navigate police and iwi checkpoints and need to be double vaccinated or have a recent test confirming they are Covid-free.
And a local business leader believes the uncertainty and potential hassle is driving travellers elsewhere.
Riki Kinnaird is a member of the Bay of Islands Marketing Group and is the co-owner of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel in Russell. He tells Checkpoint he would like to see the Bay of Islands separated from the rest of Northland's red level in the Covid protection framework, and be set to orange.
