Invercargill will get its first official visitor guide when Market South launches a new publication highlighting the delights of the city.

The guide, endorsed by Invercargill City Council, has been welcomed by mayor Tim Shadbolt and his deputy Darren Ludlow.

It had come as a surprise to find Invercargill had never had an official visitor guide in its own right, Mr Shadbolt said.

The visitor guide and suite of promotional tools that would form the overall marketing package were an exciting move for the city, he said.

“It will be fantastic for our tourism sector and local businesses. Accommodation providers and retailers will have the ability to market themselves in a publication specifically targeted for visitors to Invercargill," he said.

Market South owner Carla Forbes said Invercargill had previously been sold to visitors as part of the Southland experience but the city deserved its own highlights package.

The guide would promote the best of Invercargill and aim to excite people about the city and keep visitors here longer, she said.

Market South's collaboration with the council comes after the company lost its contract to produce the official Southland visitor guide for Venture Southland after eight years.

The tender for the Southland visitor guide was awarded to Dunedin based company AtoZ Publishing.

“With Venture Southland moving to a large directory-styled publication this year, it is great to now be working with the Invercargill City Council who share our vision of having a quality publication which promotes the best that we have to offer," Ms Forbes said.

Mr Ludlow, who had some input into the guide, said while Venture Southland looked to promote the broader region, it was about time Invercargill sold itself.

The official Invercargill visitor guide was the first of a number of Invercargill promotional products and initiatives that Market South was working on and planning to launch during the next few months, Ms Forbes said.

The guide is expected to hit stands before the tourist season, Ms Forbes said.

While the city council has endorsed the publication, it has not put funds towards it.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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