Regional tourism meeting asks for public's views

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 14, 2 September 1986, Page 3

Regional tourism meeting asks for public's views

Tourism consultant Jeno Capo was in Ohakune last week with Annette Main of Hospitality Wanganui to hear the suggestions of local people on prospects and possibilities for tourism in the region. A tourist region based on the Wanganui United Council boundaries, which includes Raetihi and Ohakune, has received a grant from the Department of

Tourism and Publicity to prepare a tourism marketing plan. Hospitality Wanganui and the Wanganui United Council have provided equal funds to help pay for the plan. Although the meeting was not well attended Mr Capo said that some interesting ideas had come from it. He said that the aim of the plan was to look at the overall region, its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. "It is necessary to specify what the region contains which may be of interest to tourists. We may know what is here but outsiders do not, and if they don't know they won't come," he said. He said that places like Ohakune with seasonal tourism could probably not expect equal numbers of visitors all year round as in such places as Queenstown .

The aim would be more to minimise the downturns. "Certainly the action-type activities such as rafting, canoeing and climbing are very important tourist growth areas and this district should sharein that," he said. Mr Capo said that people had to see they were part of a regional context in promoting their tourist assets. "People in the region have to work together is they want to develop tourism. You can't just promote yourself as a single operator. People don't necessarily come for individual activities but more for total packages,"said Mr Capo. Mr Capo is part of an advertising and public relations partnership called Adworks Ltd. It is hoped that the marketing plan will be available before Christmas.