Published on : Monday, July 2, 2018
An external advisory board would be established for creating a stronger engagement with the private sector, with a broader range of expertise to supervise the strategy’s implementation.
Tourism Central Otago would remain as a council business unit with the advisory board.
A strategy report presented to the Central Otago District Council said that next year there would be four main projects: a “reinvention” of a digital website and portal, a tourism master plan, the development of the “world of difference” brand and better transport links for visitors travelling through Central Otago.
A three-tier membership model would also be presented to organizations in the tourism industry in order to increase their engagement with the tourism process. Increasing visitor expenditure from $188 million (2017) to $378 million in 2027 is another priority.
A tourism planning manager would be added to the staff list along with a marketing and administration manager. Tourism Central Otago general manager Glenys Coughlan said that the new strategy would allow the district to stay “ahead of the curve”.
Coughlan said, “There are a number of new developments in the pipeline, including the extension of the cycle trail network, the establishment of a touring route that will connect Central Otago with Dunedin and Queenstown, night sky tourism opportunities, wine and food tourism, and developments in the arts and events space.”