Ruapehu's tourism booms over winter, but now what?

Meads Wall ... one of many tourist attractions in the Ruapehu district.

Ruapehu is teeming with visitors and local businesses are now being asked to help suggest ways to keep them rolling into town.

A forum, on Monday November 19 at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, will include a series of presentations from tourism operators and other stakeholders in the Ruapehu visitor sector.

Visit Ruapehu General Manager Jo Kennedy the district had enjoyed a bumper winter.

"Feedback from a variety of businesses from throughout the district has been that they have enjoyed their best winter financially for many, many years, Kennedy said.

"We will also spend some time talking about current issues and challenges as part of looking forward over the coming year including the need for more cooperative marketing efforts between local operators."

Photo / Bevan Conley

Ms Kennedy hoped a wider range of organisations who have benefited from the visitor sector growth such as retail, hospitality, iwi and even trade businesses would attend.

Ruapehu Mayor Cameron added that it was exciting to see that the financial benefits of a strong ski season have flowed throughout the Ruapehu economy.

"Putting Ruapehu back on a path to growth and prosperity has taken a major commitment to change with our communities supporting our economic development agenda as we have worked with government, regional and national partners, iwi and key operators such as RAL to unlock opportunities," Cameron said.

"While some decisions have been controversial such as our support for joint venture tourism marketing campaigns and the new Whakapapa Gondola project, council believes these results validate this approach."

Mt Ruapehu has seen considerable growth in skier days this year and highlights the importance of taking a long term strategic view toward Ruapehu tourism development, he added.