Ruapehu promoted in Asia

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 529, 29 March 1994, Page 3

Ruapehu promoted in Asia

Ruapehu District Council marketing manager Bruce Rollinson recently retumed from a 12-day New Zealand promotion in South East Asia where the Ruapehu district was promoted as part of the Heartland New Zealand Tourism Marketing Group incorporating Lake Taupo, Waikato and Napier. Mr Rollinson explained that one of the main objectives of the visit was to brief key tour wholesalers on the attractions of the Central North Island, as their awareness of the tourism attractions in this area was minimal. For example any enquiries about snow skiing were usually booked to South Island operators. Travel wholesalers were very interested to learn that New Zealand' s two

largest commercial ski areas were based only five hours' comfortable driving time from Auckland and that a good supporting infrastructure of transportation and accommodation was available within close proximity of these ski areas. He said in assessing the current range of tour itineraries to New Zealand there is very little reference to the Central North Island and it is obvious that areas such as Ruapehu have much to gain by ensuring their visitor attractions are being promoted to the travel industry. The costs of the promotion were substantially assisted by the King Country /Taupo Business Development Board' s Enterprise Growth Development Scheme.