30 Dec 2011

Holidaymakers return to Bay of Plenty

6:48 am on 30 December 2011

Holidaymakers have returned to Bay of Plenty despite fears the grounding of the Rena would turn people away.

Oil leaking from the ship after 5 October threatened to spoil the tourism industry there.

Despite some cancellations in November, Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says revellers have returned en masse for the New Year.

Dolphin Safaris owner Stuart Arnold says bookings so far are comparable to last season.

He says the ocean is clean and marine mammals are flourishing.