New 'Jumbo' T-bar officially opened by Minister of Tourism

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 16, 20 September 1983, Page 7

New 'Jumbo' T-bar officially opened by Minister of Tourism

The Minister of Tourism, Mr R.L.G. Talbot was due to officially open the new kilometre-long Jumbo Tbar on the Turoa Skifield ^st Sunday following a ^^tponement from the ^rcvious week when bad weather 'closed' the mountain. The new T-bar is part of a ohe and a half million dollar investment made this year by the Turoa skifields in a direct bid to capture the northern. hemisphere skiing 'jetset'. MrTony Wright, manager of the Turoa Skifields said. "Turoa had 1 20.000 visitors to the field last vear and a good percentage were overseas tourists. The record crowds caused us to bring . forward our development plans," "We have actively promoted the skifields in ^^untries all around the ^Hfld. by advertising, and visiting." said Mr Wright.

The T-bar opens up many new trails and can carry -1 400 people up the slopes an hour. It ensures skiers can spend more time skiing and less time queuing. The Alpine Lodge Cafeteria is. virtually trebled in s i 7, e and can now accommodate 1 20 people seated at once. The building is centrally heated and incorporates a creche. At the Snowflake Cafeteria, further up the slopes, there have been internal renovations giving "more counter space and a quicker service. "In 1979 the Sports and Recreation Council did a survey and found 1.25% of New Zealanders are skiers. Similar research found the figure is now closer to 2%, an increase of well over 50%," said Mr Wright. "We believe Turoa is in part responsible for the growth as we have always promoted new skiers," he said.