There has been a 26.9% drop in visitor numbers tracked by the Raglan Information Centre from 2010 to 2011. The report was provided by the Waikato Enterprise Agency to the Waikato District Council’s Strategy & Finance Committee earlier this month. The latest data covered the period from 1st June 2010 to 31st July 2011, comparing this period to the corresponding period the year before. This drop probably reflects a decline in overall visitor numbers to Raglan. The Agency believes the drop off is due to the recessionary economic condition and the Christchurch earthquake. They have prepared a promotional video and brochure to promote the region and hope that this will boost visitor numbers.
Overall visitors handled by the Raglan Information Centre declined from 38,379 in 2010 to 28,038, a drop of 10,341 equal to 26.9%. The biggest drop came in visitors from the United Kingdon where there was a 34.6% fall. New Zealand Local visitors also fell by 33%. Australian numbers were down by 20.6% although the Agency had reported a 70% increase from Australia the previous year. The smallest decrease tracked was for Germany where the decline was only 11.5%. The only category increasing was ‘Other’ which went up by 70%, equal to 330 people. The Agency did not say what ‘Other’ included or comment on the increase. At the WDC’s Strategy & Finance Committee Meeting, Ms Kim Bredenbeck from the Waikato Enterprise Agency provided a PowerPoint presentation and answered questions from the Committee in relation to key undertakings at the Huntly and Raglan Information Centres. A tourism promotional video commissioned by the Information Centres was presented. The Committee then voted to accept the report.
I took a glance at the report produced by Ms Kim Bredenbeck from the Waikato Enterprise Agency to the WDC’s Strategy & Finance Committee Meeting which shows a decline in visitors to the Raglan Information Centre. Council provides an annual budget of $99,314 to advise 28,038 visitors.
I checked out the websites of Raglan Info Centre and the Enterprise Agency a trust established to support business development and training in the District including the info centres in Huntly and Raglan.
The report shows an accommodation membership of over 100 yet only 16′ places to stay’ are shown on the Raglan info site, and 3 things to do , 2 surf and 1 walk. There are a number of video clips available, most have been viewed only 7 times. I could not find a map and only a bus timetable for directions.
It is acknowledged in the report to the Finance and Strategy Committee that the majority of accommodation providers take their own bookings online. Further activity reported for the Raglan Information Centre included, hosting a woman selling accommodation advertising, updating 3 pamphlets, attending the launch of the Wahinemoe, placing an advertisement in the Raglan Arts Trail Guide, hosting 2 tourism cadets, 2 stories in the Waikato Times about the district, 18 new members. The numbers who attended the ‘After 5’ event are not reported but 30 more bookings were made largely due to decreases in nightly accommodation rates. A Huntly postcard was commissioned and 100 have been sold this year from 2 outlets.
The Waikato Enterprise Agency website is linked to the Waikato District Council site, it has not been updated since July 2010. The Agency reports attending a social media conference which has resulted in 60 facebook page views this year.
The Finance and Strategy Committee accepted this report, thereby setting the standard for levels of achievement for enterprise within the Councils vision for economic excellence.
The Info Centre website used to have its own accommodation listings. Now seems to have the same Bookit list carried by the Raglan Website. We also list anybody else for free who wants to be listed.
So the Info Centre is no longer publicising their members on the web. The Info Centre website has a low traffic ranking so not many people will find it when searching.
So good point Linda about what is being done and how much it costs. Are ratepayers and Info Centre members getting good value for their dollar in this area of spending?