Tourism Strategy

Late 2006, Nelson Tasman Tourism completed stage one of a development process towards a new 10-year tourism strategy for the Nelson Tasman region. Stage two, which started in mid-February 2007, included scoping out the strategy content, getting together a contact list and planning public meetings to gather information.

Leading recommendations

The development of a conference centre as a matter of urgency, greater investment in event development and domestic marketing, and the establishment of the region as a leader in sustainable tourism practices are key to the continued development of Nelson Tasman’s tourism industry. These are leading recommendations in the new tourism strategy released for public comment.

After wide consultation with tourism businesses, community organisations and individuals, the draft Nelson Tasman Tourism Strategy, has been developed to form a part of the Regional Economic Development Strategy.

The strategy warns ‘Nelson Tasman cannot assume that it will remain in New Zealand’s top 10 tourism regions if it maintains the status quo approach to tourism.’

‘Other regions are investing aggressively in infrastructure and destination marketing, with the aim of taking visitor market share off regions like Nelson Tasman.’

Tourism overall part of economic development

Tourism is one of this region’s big four industries and the strategy being developed will fit under the umbrella of the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS), which is also under review by the Nelson Economic Development Agency. The completed Tourism Strategy is a sub-section of the completed REDS.

Input into the tourism strategy will be gathered in different phases.

  • A high level, broad-based steering group will guide strategy development ensuring it considers the plans and processes of key national and regional organisations. The steering group will also provide feedback on the content of the draft analysis and findings.
  • There will be a series of one-to-one meetings with industry representatives and special interest groups.
  • Public meetings will be conducted in Nelson, Motueka and in Golden Bay and a further series of one on one meetings is planned.

Contact

In this detailed information gathering phase anyone with an interest in the direction tourism should take, can contribute to the initial development stages by emailing Nelson Tasman Tourism.