MDC hopefuls get tourism push

Tourism is a major earner for Marlborough but that can be difficult to see in the community, Destination Marlborough says.

The Marlborough tourism organisation has delivered to Marlborough District Council candidates and the chief executive a summary of the benefits and needs of regional tourism.

The summary was written by the Tourism Industry Organisation.

Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston said she had sent copies of the summary to council hopefuls so they were informed about tourism and knew how broad the benefits of the industry were for the region.

"Supporting tourism is also supporting vibrancy growth for our region," she said.

"It created jobs, more business and improved the spirit of the community.

"Good tourism makes a town that locals enjoy to live in as well. Without the spend of visitors, Marlborough would look a very different place."

Marlborough's tourism forecast, produced by the Economic Development Ministry, showed 1.5 million people visited Marlborough in 2009, spending $208 million.

The forecast expected the number of visitors to increase about 0.5 per cent a year for the next six years, and the money spent by visitors is expected to increase about 2.5 per cent a year to $245m by 2016.

The summary sent to council is a national report that has been sent to all local government authorities.

It says the council should become more knowledgeable of the tourism industry and look for chances to invest alongside industry members, which would benefit the whole community.

It also asked the council to become more business-friendly and ease compliance costs for the industry. "The economic value of of visitors to regions is much wider than the tariff paid to an accommodation provider or the fare paid to a transport operator. The visitor industry has an impact at every level of every community in New Zealand. The return on investment made by local government in support of the visitor industry filters down to all parts of the community," it says.

- The Marlborough Express

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