Ferry's information centre captures floating traveller

An i-Site aboard the Interislander flagship provides a "three-hour marketing window" for Marlborough and Wellington tourism agencies, says Marlborough deputy mayor Jenny Andrews.

Mrs Andrews officially opened the $33,000 information centre on the Kaitaki in Picton yesterday morning after its sailing from Wellington.

She said tourism was a pillar of Marlborough's economy and the new i-Site meant the ferry trip from the capital was no longer "simply a transit point".

"The three-hour journey is a window of marketing opportunity."

The floating i-Site was a co-operative move by regional tourism bodies Destination Marlborough and Positively Wellington.

During each voyage, two staff members would be there to field questions from passengers and make bookings, just like at any of the other centres based on firmer foundations.

Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston said the service became a reality through "great relations and teamwork".

"It was too good an opportunity to pass up, despite the fact that there was no money [for it] in the budget."

Nick Jones, assistant manager of both the Wellington and Kaitaki i-Sites, said passengers had used the new i-Site's booking service during its very first sailing.

"We made several bookings, particularly in the last hour of the trip, and made $900 worth of sales.

"We got a lot of questions about the Blenheim and Picton area, mainly about wineries."

The Interislander fleet has three vessels. However, Mrs Johnston said there were no plans to put i-Sites on other ships, as they did not have the capacity.

- The Marlborough Express