Rotorua may soon have its own 24-hour hop-on, hop-off bus service similar to those operating overseas, with the aim of moving visitors and tourists around the city during the Rugby World Cup and beyond.
Destination Rotorua Economic Development general manager Grant Kilby said the service would offer one fare, run for
24 hours and would cover a designated circuit through the central city, down Fenton St and out to the major attractions, possibly as far as the Agrodome.
Mr Kilby said he and Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing general manager Don Gunn were a "long way down the track" in terms of discussions with Newmans Intercity to run the service and he expected a decision in the next couple of months.
He said many international cities offered a similar service, citing the Hop On, Hop Off Double Deck Sightseeing Bus in London.
The Rotorua service would allow visitors to get the lay of the land and its attractions. It's envisaged there will be information and commentary along the way, pointing out and promoting key attractions in the city.
Mr Kilby said the fare could be somewhere in the range of $15 a day and a person could use the service as much as they wanted each day.
Visitors to the city could also learn cultural and historic aspects that they would otherwise have not been told about, potentially leading to visitors staying longer in the region.
At the end of 2007 the Wiggley Experience was launched in Rotorua. It was a free dinner and shopping shuttle and was a Shop Rotorua and Reesby's bus service initiative funded by 22 Rotorua retailers and tourism providers. The service ended early in 2009 due to a lack of financial support from businesses.
However, Mr Kilby said the proposed new service was different to the Wiggley Experience as it was aimed at visitors and tourists, would have a fare and designated pick-up and drop-off points. The Wiggley Experience only operated in the CBD and Fenton St.
Mr Kilby said the cost of the project was still to be determined and it would be ideal to have sponsorship from local businesses.
