Marketing plan for Ruapehu soon

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 404, 21 July 1992, Page 10

Marketing plan for Ruapehu soon

Ruapehu's new marketing manager Bruce Rollinson, is currently working on a new district marketing plan which is to be completed by 31 August 1992. At a recent meeting of the Council's Promotion and Development Sub Committee, Mr Rollinson outlined a number of key issues that will be addressed in the District Marketing Plan. Many of these issues had already been identified by a number of individual operators and promotional groups. However, in the past it has been difficult to allocate the time to coordinate and follow through with these, he said. The key areas which are likely to be focused on in

the marketing plan are: • Promotion of the District as a year-round visitor destination, with the objective to increase visitor numbers during the summer. • Packaging of various tourist activities within the District by promoting it as a value for money destination. • Combine the activities of the District with neighbouring districts to promote the Central North Island as an alternative destination to traditional blue-ribbon centres. • Promote the concept of 'Event Marketing'to organisations and clubs within the District to obtain increased visitor numbers. • In the medium term, address some of the problems that exist in the District's tourism infrastructure, specifically public transportation. A plan is currently being prepared for the promotion of State High-

ways 4 and 49 as an alternative north/south axis to State Highway 1. This would encourage travellers to areas along this highway, including Taumarunui and Ohakune. Mr Rollinson also said that the Ruapehu, Taupo and Waikato areas had formed a working party to look at promoting the Central North Island, Volcanic Plateau region to inbound tour operators who currently have very little information on these areas. These operators make up package tours, based on the promotional material they have available. "If there is very little material available on this area how can this District expect to gain a share of the predicted growth in International tourism". However, the domestic market cannot be overlooked with 80% of tourists to the region being domestic tourists.