Central N.I. Tourism Region Proposed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 26, 25 November 1986, Page 7

Central N.I. Tourism Region Proposed

Catherine Dodd of the Ruapehu Region Information Centre in Ohakune attended the one-day Central North Island Tourism Conference in Tokaanu recently along with 80 other representatives from the tourist/hospitality industry. Her report of the day's proceedings is given below.

The main objectives of the Central North Island Tourism Day were: 1. to encourage regional tourism. 2. to help get the Regional Tourism Council up and running so that the Central N.l. can compete more effectively with other tourist regions. The meeting began with the co-ordinator of Tourism Day 1986, Christine La Varis, welcoming all participants and giving a resume of the day's activities. The first guest speaker, Mr Stuart Long from the Northland Tourism Board. explained the advantages of Regional Tourism. He was most emphatic that if the Central N.l. Region is to be successful in the bid for tourists, all areas that make up that region must unite. He said that while several operators from the different areas have expressed fears that identities may be lost, this should not be the case as each area must still continue to promote their various individual resources. To obtain government

grants a region must be formed and a marketing plan be completed. After Mr Long's address the participants split into five groups of 15-20 representatives to discuss workshop topics. These topics were: 1 Regional Tourism Policy; 2 Administering and Funding a Tourist Region; 3 Regional Tourism Research needs; 4 Regional Visitor Information needs; 5 Promotingand marketing a Tourist Region. The purpose of the workshops was to give participants from different districts within the region the opportunity to grapple with the practicalities and problems of making a tourist region work. The next guest speaker at a full meeting after lunch was Mr Grant Stevenson, Public Relations Officer from Levin who gave a very positiveand amusing address entitled "Kick starting a Small Town." The facts he presented to the group were relevant to those experienced by all smalf towns — a general feeling of apathy exists in

most communities. The following points are a summary of Mr Stevenson's address: • Smaller communities must want growth and that means accepting change. • Community developers must have the philosophical and financial support of the local authority. • Inactivity leads to boredom; boredom destroys small communities. • Community development can only be sustained long term with a balance of economic health and quality of town lifestyle. • Begin with the achievable and graduate to the important. • Clean up the local authority image e.g. public toilets, parks etc. • Analyse local strengths as a source of major project ideas. • Good news stays local, bad news goes national. Educate the people with whom potential investors have first contact with in our area. From Mr Stevenson's motivating session workshops were re-convened to summarise the findings and resolutions. To conclude the day's discussions another full meeting was convened to consider the recommendations of each workshop in a Plenary Session.

All these recommendations will be presented to the next meeting at the Interim Central N.l. Region Tourism Council for implementation. Each local promotion association within the region has been requested to send two representatives to that Council meeting to be held on Tuesday 2 Decembcr at Tokaanu. It is the intention of those who attended from the Waimarino to keef) local operators informed of the developments in the Central North Island region.