On the evening of Tuesday 27th, twenty-nine members of the RAGLAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE gathered at the Raglan Sunset Motel to hear KIRI GOULTER Chief Executive of the newly formed Hamilton & Waikato Tourism group give an update on what the organisation had been doing since it was formed in July. She pointed out the large numbers of tourists that travel through the Waikato region, but few of them stop for a look. When asked how Raglan could attract some of these people she said that Raglan and the Waitomo Caves were the only two destinations in the region that were easy for the organisation to promote. Their work has been focussed on attracting Australian tourists, resources on Waikato travel for overseas wholesalers, attracting conventions to the region, the Waikato tourism website and on a Waikato guide-book to be published soon.
After a Q & A session local Raglan tourism providers then got their turn to speak. Brent Cederman from Raglan Sunset Motel said that the town should work collectively to promote its benefits to potential visitors. He pointed out the need to change to meet visitor needs and how the Motel now offered continental and cooked breakfasts. Anna and Niall talked about their new PiwiWiwi Campervan business with six campervans customised for surfers. Anthea Jackson gave an update on the Raglan Information covering how it will be an i-Site when it moves to the new building. Charlie Young then spoke, urging people to work together and for the Chamber to take a cordianting role.