Groups band together to push tourism

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism is to provide core tourism marketing services for Mackenzie District Council to help bring visitors into destinations like Aorangi-Mt Cook and Tekapo.

CCT will provide the services for 12 months from September 17.

Mackenzie District Council chief executive Glen Innes said the council had previously used Mackenzie Tourism & Development Trust as its vehicle for marketing the region. But the trust had spent more than its $270,000 rating provision, particularly after it had set up an i-SITE in Tekapo, and the council had decided to cut back on costs.

Staff including trust general manager Phil Brownie would be impacted.

The council would pay CCT less than $200,000 to carry out specific marketing functions. CCT would bill the council for work done.

Chief executive Tim Hunter said as well as specific marketing projects, CCT would carry out some joint marketing for the Mackenzie region as it already did under its own Canterbury banner.

“Our role will be to liaise with tourism operators, represent the region at key travel trade events, host media and travel trade familiarisation visits, assist operators with web listings, and ensure the district is involved in marketing campaigns.” CCT would also appoint a Mackenzie-based field officer, he said.

Innes said a Mackenzie District Council working party would evaluate the long-term tourism marketing environment the region needed.

The party would also identify what future role the council might play to ensure the region optimises the economic and employment opportunities in the tourism sector.

- © Fairfax NZ News