New approach to visitor information services

Plans are being prepared for an expansion of visitor information services in the Far North to raise the profile of the i-SITE network and improve commercial viability.


A series of initiatives are expected to be introduced over the next few months for the council-owned tourist network including:-


the introduction of a virtual website to capture online bookings before visitors reach their Far North destinations
better directional signs to draw attention to the location of i-SITES
an expansion of travel booking services
utilizing libraries and council service centres as additional points of sale


In the longer term the council intends to look to improving the revenue stream from i-SITES by introducing café and internet café services, by broadening the range of merchandise available for sale and by competing for events marketing and package sales opportunities.


The council currently has i-SITES in the Bay of Islands, Hokianga and Kaitaia. However a review of visitor information services has targeted the possibility of developing a booking agency presence at major international ports of entry such as Auckland and at developing business relationships with private sector service providers within the Far North district.


General Manager for District Facilities Alastair Wells says the i-SITE network is currently heavily subsidized by the council. These new initiatives are designed to develop services to a point at which the visitor information network will be financially self-supporting.


"While the council is conscious of the need to reduce the annual cost to the ratepayer, we don't want this to happen at the expense of private sector service providers. As a result a number of the initiatives involve working in collaboration rather than competing directly with the private sector," he said.


Mr Wells says the revised marketing approach will need to be supported in future with better designed buildings and infrastructure. Planning on this aspect was already well advanced with the current proposals for new facilities in the Te Ahu Centre at Kaitaia, plans for a joint initiative with the private sector at Opononi and proposals to enlarge

i-SITE accommodation at Paihia.