Mayor outlines marketing campaigns

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 476, 9 March 1993, Page 8

Mayor outlines marketing campaigns

Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman reviews the work of the council marketing manager: • The Promotion and Development Subcommittee recently discussed the very good results being achieved in the areas of District Marketing and Promption. I feel it is timel'y to comment on the Marketing Manager's role in this area and the results being achieved. The principal objective of Council in making the appointment was to ensure we had working with the organisation, a person responsible for all aspects of marketing and public relations including the preparation and implementation of a

Marketing Plan. This in allowing the Council to achieve its key objective of marketing the District nationally and internationally as a desirable lo- ' cation for tourism and recreational purposes. Since his appointment, Bruce has been very much involved in the development of a Marketing Plan for the District - a Plan adopted last September by the Council. This Plan outlines short to medium term marketing goals and programmes and has enabled marketing resources to be more effectively allocated into areas that provide the greatest return for the District. While I am fully aware there are a number of business people who have not yet met Bruce, I can assure everyone that since his appointment he has been working extremely hard on a number of key tasks, not the least of these being the Marketing Plan, which I am sure will be of great benefit to the District. Another important project taking up much of his time has been the promotion of State Highways 4 and 49 as alternative north/south routes. Specific details of the project will be announced in the near future. Towns such as Taumarunui, Ohakune, National Park and Raetihi will benefit significantly as does Waiouru already if a greater number of travellers are encouraged to drive through the District via the Ruapehu Scenic Highway rather than di-

rectly up the Desert Road. Bruce has also initiated a visitors survey to establish visitor trends, ie domestic versus international, reason for visit, point of entry and exit to the District, demographic data (age/occupation etc).

These survey results will be made available to anyone on request and will be used as background information to develop future marketing projects, for example the summer activity programme. Another important

campaign is the Summer Ruapehu Campaign, iniiiated to complement the existing successful Ski Ruapehu programme. Twenty-three district operators (accommodation and activity) were co-or-dinated in the programme, these operators were from Taumarunui,

Whakapapa Village, Ohakune, National Park, Raetihi and Waiouru. As a result of this campaign the feedback has been very positive which is important as the Council attempts to create a greater awareness throughout New Zealand and overseas of the

Summer activities available in this District. Readers should be aware that Bruce is readily available to discuss any issues relating to business development or marketing.

Garrick

Workman

Mayor