New Zealand's tourism minister said on Wednesday the country should promote its erupting Mount Ruapehu volcano as a major world attraction but offered little comfort to ski operators facing big losses.
"It's a fantastic tourism attraction here . . . and we and the Tourism Board are promoting it across the world as something incredible to see and to witness," said Tourism Minister John Banks after flying over the volcano.Scientists said the mountain had calmed down since Monday, when it belched incandescent rocks as big as 30 feet across. But they said more lava was rising.
"That's the sort of thing that will probably lead to further eruptions later on," vulcanologist Brad Scott said.
He reported small explosions and weak emissions of ash, adding volcanic gases were likely to produce mild acid rain in central North Island regions.
The civil defense ministry said people in the area could suffer minor discomforts such as eye and skin irritations.
Banks said after visiting the region that the government would not bail out businesses and ski resort operators who have seen the start of their season wrecked.
"The ski slopes looked like a moonscape, flying over them this morning. That's part of the tourism attraction, as far as the volcano is concerned, but it's not helpful for those people who are in the ski industry," he said.
"If the ski season is lost, it will be devastating for 30 percent of the businesses here, and I'm not sure how we can help," Banks added.
"What I don't have for them (local businesses) is a checkbook on behalf of you and the rest of the taxpayers across the country to bail out business here, because these people don't want that. They're very positive, upbeat people but they're going through quite painful times."