Whakatāne is bracing for potential job losses as it prepares for tourists bypassing the town because they can't tour the volcano.
The Ovation of the Seas cruise ship - which was carrying passengers killed in the eruption - is now refunding bookings for future tours.
Locals are now turning to other tourism operations to help attract visitors.
It was promoted as both beautiful and fascinating - but on December 9 White Island showed it's also dangerous and deadly.
The eruption left 16 people confirmed dead, and another two people - Hayden Marshall-Inman and Winona Langford - remain missing.
Many of the dead were visiting from the Ovation of the Seas cruise liner and since returning to Australia it has canceled all future trips to the volcano, telling customers "the offer was no longer available" and they would be "fully refunded".
Tours are allowed to return again after the exclusion zone put in place around White Island after the eruption was lifted on Friday night by the Harbour Master - allowing access back to the island after 11 days.
But Worksafe is urging people not to set foot on the island because the risk is too high.
White Island Tour boats remain parked up and cordoned off as the police investigation continues, and that's making some locals nervous.
"It's going to impact a lot to all of us basically. This is how we're getting money and that," one person told Newshub.
Others are more optimistic.
"This town thrives in summer no matter what," another said.
That attitude and a portion of a $5 million Government fund will help too.
"[We're] looking at things like how do we help business that may have to put staff off unless something improves, those are the types of issues that will need to be considered," says Whakatāne District Council Mayor Judy Turner.
Whakatāne also has other options to attract visitors.
"Obviously we have other tourism opportunities than White Island tours so them stepping up and making known what's on offer is important," Turner adds.
The resilience of the community is to be tested again as they head towards a summer without being able to show off what is the jewel in the crown for its tourism.
