Oh dear – TRM are back on their biking theme again. Borrrrring…
But Tongariro River anglers need to realise we are motivated entirely on your behalf. If this trail succeeds it will substantially increase the river fishing opportunities in summer months. Nothing else will match it to increase angling access up the Tongariro River.
i.e. If the existing Tongariro River Trail is extended south to link with the Poutu Dam (where existing DOC managed bike trails extend through to the Pillars of Hercules and south in the Kaimanawas to Tree Trunk Gorge) this will provide anglers access to the upper Tongariro River pools that are only accessible by raft at present. OK? So there is method in our madness and enthusiasm for new bike trails.
But please keep it to yourself and don’t tell Toe-Paw Council. They have not promoted trout fishing for over 25 years and recent history has proved they do not not want to do anything that may encourage tourism to the southern end of Lake Taupo.
We understand. They are traditionally greedy and selfishly want to look after their ratepayers at the northern end of the lake. But the biggest industry in Turangi and Taupo region and throughout NZ is called “tourism” so we have to win eventually. The $$$ commercial benefits will drive it in the end.
Cycling network promises regional benefits
One cycle trail body may soon rule them all in the Waikato bringing with it 100,000 extra visitors and 160 new jobs.
Economic development agency Te Waka and the Waikato Regional Council have commissioned a business case to identify how to maximise the economic, business and employment opportunities associated with the region’s cycle trails.
It comes amid the recent Waikato Economic Summit identifying cycle trails and their wider economic benefits as one of the top three economic development opportunities in the region.
The case suggests bringing the region’s Hauraki Rail Trail, Timber Trail, Waikato River Trails, the Great Lake Trail, and Te Awa River Ride together under the Waikato Regional Cycle Trail Network (WRCTN).
(If they are really aiming at tourists trails then TRM have suggested the T2T [Taupo-to-Turangi] and Tongariro River Trails to be included as priorities as well, as it is our rates to Waikato Regional Council being contributed. Otherwise Turangi will be overlooked – again.)
* Hauraki Rail Trail contributes millions to local economy
The network is made up of trail trusts, district councils, regional council,Te Waka, New Zealand Transport Agency, Department of Conservation, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism, Destination Coromandel and Destination Great Lake Taupō.
A regional approach to the development of the trails would be taken, rather than the trails being limited by local capacity and funding availability.
Te Waka chief operating officer Harvey Brookes said the cycle trails were a “potential game-changer” for the region.
“Our interest is in the economic growth and job benefits which the trails can facilitate- helping to connect and link destinations, events and assets, to create high-value multi-day visitor experiences.
“The development of trails can open up business and jobs opportunities in food and retail, cultural and event tourism hospitality and destination development that might not otherwise exist, or which might not exist to the same extent,” he said.
Over the next five years investment of over $1.5 million will be sought.
But South Waikato District Council economic development manager Paul Bowden said funding from WRCTN members won’t be impacted for three years. A total of $737,000 is needed during that period.
“The proposal is that a funding application will be made to the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to fund the establishment of the network and operating cost for years 1-3,” he said.
The Waikato Regional Council will contribute 9 per cent of the funding needed and other members what they have already allocated through the likes of Long Term Plans.
From year four, members will be required to pay up to $27,000 each per annum.
Bowden said there was a need for the network.
“By working more coherently as a network and having dedicated staff managing that network then we have the opportunity to grow both national and international visitors.
“They estimate another 100,000 visitors over 10 years and that will create another 160 jobs by 2029,” he said.
Bike Taupō operations manager Pete Masters welcomed the move.
“Cycling is already a big part of the community and Bike Taupō wish to join some trails together to make it better.
“Remember this is a long term strategy. It may be 20 years before the stars align and some projects are able to be undertaken,” he said.
The South Waikato, Hamilton City, and Hauraki District Councils have voted to support the move, while Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Matamata-Piako and Waitomo District Councils are yet to deliberate.
Government’s ‘long overdue’ tourism strategy to handle 5m overseas visitors
The tourism industry hopes the Government’s long overdue tourism strategy will help take the pressure off overburdened communities and make sure money is wisely spent on new infrastructure.
With millions of dollars up for grabs via the Provincial Growth Fund and an international visitor levy, there’s been concern this could lead to a “first in best dressed” approach to doling out the money.
The draft strategy released on Tuesday for public feedback said tourism brought wider economic, social and cultural benefits, but quickly responding to significant and rapid shifts in visitor numbers was a problem.
Future investment in tourism-related infrastructure would be based on factors such as whether it encouraged off peak travel, attracted higher spending visitors from new or emerging markets, and provided more jobs for New Zealanders as opposed to employing migrant labour.
The Government suggests dividing funds between established regions under pressure from hosting large numbers of visitors, emerging regions that need a boost to attract more, and “embryonic” regions requiring significant investment to cater for international visitors.
Regional tourism New Zealand chief executive Charlie Ives said setting priorities should help ensure money went to the right places.
“The Provincial Growth Fund is $1b and tourism has been allocated a big chunk of that so far … the strategy will hopefully deliver a road map as to where things should go over the next little while, like the suggestions for a new international airport in Central Otago.”
Tourism Export Council chief executive Judy Chen said the strategy was long overdue and was a much-needed change in direction away from purely increasing visitor numbers.
Secure funding was important and her organisation would press for retention of the $25m a year tourism infrastructure fund when the new $35 visitor levy is introduced next year.
“We know that tourism has grown faster than many communities can cope with and this has put unplanned strain on local infrastructure with the locals often the ones paying for new carparks or public toilets through their rates.”
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis agreed the focus on destination marketing over the past decade had to change to one of destination management and he is confident New Zealand can easily cope with the 5.1 m international arrivals forecast by 2024.
“We’ve had a 43 per cent increase in arrivals over the past five years, but if we look at countries like Ireland, which is smaller than us, they’ve managed to absorb 8m visitors annually.”
Part of the problem was that some regions competed, rather than co-operated.
“If we present a coherent tourism product, each area having its own unique style and attractions, we’re going to do a lot better than areas running off and doing things in a hotchpotch manner; we’ve got to co-operate and be unified in the approach we take.”
Keeping New Zealanders “on side” was a strong theme in the strategy which pointed out that a “mood of the nation” survey showed 40 per cent of Kiwis questioned felt that international tourism was putting too much pressure on New Zealand, double the percentage of just under two years earlier
It said New Zealanders’ access to public conservation lands and waters was “particularly critical,” and community support for tourism dropped when the peak season influx caused overcrowding and had an adverse impact on the environment.
Davis said that although overseas tourists who came here last year spent $14.5b, domestic visitors spent more than $20b, and it was important to preserve Kiwi’s ability to explore and enjoy their own country.
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