Waipa tourism support boosted
Waipa District Council looks set to increase its annual contribution to Hamilton & Waikato Tourism in recognition of the increasing role visitors now play in supporting and growing the local economy.
The regional tourism organisation, which markets the wider Waikato region to domestic and international visitors, is likely to receive $150,000 a year from Waipa for the next 10 years. The move will be confirmed when the 10-Year Plan is adopted in June.
The increase is in line with a request for more funding from the region's other councils. Hamilton & Waikato Tourism also receives more than $400,000 each year directly from tourism operators.
Waipa mayor Jim Mylchreest said tourism was a key economic driver for Waipa and its potential was only beginning to be realised. Of the $1 billion spent by visitors to the wider Waikato region last year, more than $167 million was spent directly in the Waipa district.
Waipa has a growing reputation for big sporting events and venues and for nature-based based experiences including attractions like Sanctuary Mountain at Maungatautari and Pirongia. There's an awful lot to do here that's unique to Waipa and people are seeing that.
He noted that 45 per cent of visitor spending goes directly to local Waipa retail and hospitality outlets.
It's those local stores, cafes and restaurants that help keep the district vibrant and make Waipa such an attractive place to visit.
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism chief executive Kiri Goulter welcomed the additional investment and confirmed Waipa was well-placed to attract more visitors. Along with domestic and international visitors, Waipa had huge potential to build on growing interest in the district from the domestic conference market, she said.
While some Waikato councils have yet to finalise their 10-Year Plans, nearly all had indicated they were likely to increase their funding to the organisation. She said the additional money would be used to continue promotional activity including promoting cycleways, nature-based experiences and local conference facilities.
Hamilton & Waikato Tourism would also be aiming to help develop new tourism experiences to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more locally, she said.
In addition to the increased investment to Hamilton & Waikato Tourism, Waipa District Council has allocated an extra $15,000 each year for 10 years to the Cambridge and Te Awamutu i-Sites to be used for local tourism marketing. The increase means both i-Sites will receive more than $90,000 each year.
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All media enquiries, contact Jeanette Tyrrell (on behalf of council) 027 507 7599