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8ththMay May 2014 2018 27 Jan --14 3rdth Feb
FIRST ON THE STREET
No No 434 649
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
89 J O IN SI BS D E
enquiries@lwb.co.nz
Is it time to disband Destination Queenstown? Last week, business and tourism leaders from Wanaka and Queenstown met in Cardrona to talk about how they could work together to more proactively advocate the district. It’s purportedly the first time the boards of Lake Wanaka Tourism and Destination Queenstown, Queenstown Chamber of Commerce and Ignite Wanaka Chamber of Commerce have held a meeting together. Mayor Jim Boult said; “To somebody visiting our district from another part of the world, they’d wonder what the fuss was about because both areas are really similar.” But I’d go one further – I think there’s many people living in the region who have often questioned why both Chambers and particularly both regional tourism operators have never pooled their resources before. Both towns are experiencing rapid growth, driven in part by the increasing number of visitors to the district. QLDC state there’s 37,000 ratepayers in the district and 6.5 million visitor nights per annum. There’s 6.5 million business opportunities in there, but this comes with responsibilities and infrastructure issues that are hard to manage with a small permanent resident base – the towns are bursting at the seams and it’s starting to show. Visitors flock here because of the great work done by regional tourism operators Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism, which market our region to the world. They’ve obviously done a good job, because at capacity, there’s one local resident per 34 visitors in Queenstown alone. However, the smartest marketing campaigns won’t work if your product doesn’t appeal. Queenstown’s infrastructure is struggling with this high capacity and visitors are starting to notice. A number of visitors I’ve talked have complained that Queenstown is “too touristy” and though it seems ironic – a tourist complaining about tourism – I think they have a good point. The ‘product’ is starting to wear out. Local businesses seem to agree. In late March, DQ members voted on whether the organisation should receive an increase in funding. This would have equated to an additional $349k in the fiscal year 2018 – 2019, but this motion didn’t receive the 75% voter threshold required.
Lindsey Francis and Wesley McAllister, organisers of the QMTBC’s End of Season fundraiser at Atlas Beer Cafe on Saturday. (Photo: Jodi Walters)
Perhaps it’s time to look at a different way to market the region, starting by looking a little closer to home. Wanaka and Queenstown are very similar in both their assets and their issues. Maybe it’s time to disband DQ and Lake Wanaka Tourism in favour of a joint, district-wide tourism organisation. We’ve reached a critical mass and the region is very much on the tourist map. It’s time to ease off, re-group and strive for quality in what we offer to the world, instead of scrambling for quantity. Bethany G. Rogers
INTERNATIONAL DJ MILANDRES
www.qac.co.nz
QUEENSTOWNS BIGGEST LATINO PARTY SATURDAY MAY 12TH JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 98% correct
RENTAL PROPERTIES
See inside back cover for our full list
TUES
WED
A period of evening rain. Westerlies
Fine with Northerlies.
THUR
FRI
SAT
Cloud increasing Cloudy periods. Mostly cloudy. A through the day. Light winds. few spots of rain.
SUN
MON
Rain. Little wind.
Cloudy with Little Wind.