Hopes to cash in on Rugby World Cup

70,000 expected through region

BY ALASTAIR STEWART

An army of ambassadors is needed to push Kapiti and Horowhenua as a destination for visiting Rugby World Cup tourists, the regional tourism organisation says.

Nature Coast this week released a firm list of proposals to boost the regions' profiles to capitalise on next year's World Cup.

"It's really important that the 70,000 people we've got living here on the Coast become ambassadors," said tourism manager Chris Barber.

"All the people who live here need to stand up and be heard. They're the ones who have got to tell our story to the visiting people from the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa that we know will come and visit."

Last week Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden spoke with Kapiti and Horowhenua representatives about the impact of the Rugby World Cup.

Nature Coast this week announced action it will take during the next 18 months to capitalise on the expected 70,000 visitors, many of whom will pass through the region.

Among the ventures are a "world-class" Kapiti and Horowhenua visitor guide that will be distributed to campervans, hotels, tour operators and every information centre in New Zealand, said Mr Barber.

"We need a kick-ass visitor guide that will stand above the 25 others that will be there."

Nature Coast plans to boost the region's online presence through the use of blogs and social networking media. Already Kapiti's Facebook page fans number 1800, while Horowhenua lags behind with 120 fans. The official Rugby World Cup Facebook page has nearly 300,000 fans.

Both Kapiti and Horowhenua councils need to improve or create regulations regarding freedom campers, creating zones where campervan users are permitted to stop, he said.

Recent research that showed freedom campers spent around $100 a day.

Councils should also make use of their event funds to encourage events that coincide with the World Cup, particularly the quarterfinals week, in which two matches will be played in Wellington.

As one example, Mr Barber suggested a series of golf tournaments at Levin, Waikanae and Paraparaumu courses.

Improved road signs were also important to encourage passers-by to stop and visit the region, said Mr Barber.

"We're not a big town centre, we're a series of small villages and we need to make sure people travelling through know that."

Nature Coast Enterprise, the economic development arm of the organisation, is pushing for a regional involvement in the creation and manufacturing of uniforms for the many volunteers that would be involved in the Cup.

A steering group will be formed in the next seven weeks.

- Kapiti Observer