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A PORTFOLIO of nearly 60 new commercial ventures has been put together to pitch the region to investors keen on cashing in on the popularity of tourism here.
In the same week that Tourism Industry Aotearoa launched its local government manifesto, urging local authorities to invest in tourism, Tourism Eastland released a draft destination development plan (DDP), identifying a total of $122.3m worth of investment opportunities, including a new $2m visitor experience centre on Kaiti Hill.
Tourism Eastland chief executive Stuart Perry said it was timely that the TIA manifesto had been released just as the OutEast Destination Development Plan for the region was completed.
“Many of the actions that TIA are recommending in their manifesto are key issues we have identified in our DDP," he said.
“The DDP has identified 59 key actions across the region, some of which are short-term projects to be undertaken in the next two years, medium-term projects between now and 2021, and a number which will run out after five or more years.”
Mr Perry said that 22 of these projects were in the Gisborne district, while a further 14 regional projects would be expected to affect the Gisborne district. The other 23 were in Opotiki and Wairoa.
“The exciting thing for Gisborne is that a number of the key actions identified in the DDP have been identified by MBIE to be included in the regional economic action plan and we have high hopes they will be supported this coming year.
“The principal reason for investing in this comprehensive study was to deal with some of those core recommendations of the TIA manifesto and particularly to look at the development of assets in the Eastland region.”
The TIA manifesto urged more local government involvement and funding for destination management, infrastructure facilitation, sports and event management, and visitor satisfaction monitoring.
“While it is critically important that we get private investment into the ‘built attractions’ and work with local iwi to strengthen cultural tourism opportunities, it is also important that the council support this with development and ongoing maintenance of basic infrastructure. This is really the thrust of the TIA manifesto.
“The DDP identified the opportunity to grow event and sport tourism, as these activities already contribute significantly to the 'visiting friends and relatives' market. While we work on the development of new and rebuild of existing infrastructure, event/sport tourism can grow to help boost the visitor economy.
“This side of tourism – we often overlook the value of school and youth sporting events – can also boost numbers to fill the off-peak seasonal slump.”
Tourism Eastland president David Sly said the 110-page draft report would go to the Tourism Eastland board for final approval on July 19.
“I think it’s brilliant. Now we just have to get everyone on board and hopefully find some money out there for people to invest in these opportunities.
“For a long-term plan it’s long overdue, and as a living document we can continue working on it as well.”
Mr Perry said Tourism Eastland, along with 14 other RTOs around the country, had contracted research company ‘QRIOUS’ to provide new in-depth surveys of visitor flows in New Zealand, based on the movement of SIM cards in mobile phones.
“While the identity of owners and exact destinations are not identifiable, the regional location and movement as day and overnight visitors can be tracked.
“It will help with the planning of marketing strategies. With a limited budget we need to pick the ‘low-hanging fruit’ and good research helps us do just that.”