Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced the Government is investing in the Raglan Ocean Trails Bike Park and four other new projects to help grow the tourism sector in New Zealand.
“Tourism is New Zealand’s second largest export earner and has a crucial role in growing our economy. The industry is in great shape and we want to keep that momentum going,” says Mr Key.
Through the Tourism Growth Partnership Fund, the Government is investing $1.1 million in five new projects across New Zealand.
The projects are:
- $47,600 to the Raglan Mountain Bike Club to promote all year round adventure activities in Raglan. See below for full details.
- $124,000 to the Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki Tribal Trust to create Te Haerenga, a guided tour on the islands of Rangitoto and Motutapu.
- $290,000 to Tourism Waitaki Limited to develop a heritage tour through Oamaru’s Victorian Precinct.
- $390,000 to Pacific Destinations – Institute of Golf to deliver world class golf experiences.
- $280,000 for Tourwriter – Mobile Itineraries Project to create an App to help visitors manage their bookings and discover targeted activities.
This funding is on top of the $1.5 million announced last week to help promote direct flights from Guangzhou, China to Christchurch.
“We want to attract more visitors to New Zealand and we can do this by identifying and responding to new market opportunities and looking at what additional products and services we can provide. I am really excited about the range of projects we are helping fund in this round,” says Mr Key.
The Tourism Growth Partnership is a contestable co-investment fund that allows the Government to work in partnership with the tourism industry.
Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government has made $8 million per year available to support projects that will create new opportunities and help overcome barriers to growth in the tourism sector.
The Government has now invested $10.5 million in 20 projects.
Round Four of the Tourism Growth Partnership Fund is now open. More information is available at www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/tourism-growth-partnership.
– Ocean Trails Mountain Bike Park
The Raglan Mountain Bike Club collaborated with its wider community to create a project that united the community of Raglan by using an innovative approach to crowd sourcing and crowd marketing. With a primary aim of giving an alternative that appeals to its traditional surfing market, the Raglan Ocean Trails Mountain Bike park aims to keep visitors in the region for longer, offers opportunity for new business start-ups and wide economic returns. The project aligns with the Tourism Industry Association’s Tourism 2025 Growth framework to target for value.
The Challenge
Despite being a small seaside town of only 3,000 people, Raglan already draws thousands of international tourists to its world class surf beaches each year. Although there are some year-round adventure activities for tourists on days when the surf is flat, there is no local high-quality cycling option. A collaborative and community-focused approach for the building of a mountain bike park was suggested. Cycling and mountain biking are increasingly popular worldwide for youth, families and the adventurous traveler. New Zealand is increasing its appeal to these markets by building new mountain bike parks nationwide.
The Solution
The park will provide nearly seven kilometres of world-class mountain bike trails, with options for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders. The Ocean Trail Mountain Bike Park is a community enterprise supported by the Raglan Mountain Biking Club, Raglan Chamber of Commerce, Waikato District Council and Hamilton-Waikato Regional Tourism. The park will be built in the Wainui Reserve pine forest, overlooking Raglan’s famous surf beaches.
The park will provide year-round activity for international visitors. Through partnerships with other New Zealand mountain bike parks and inbound tour operators, the park will make a significant contribution to the growth of the Raglan’s international visitor market.
Key facts
Programme start: December 2015
Length of TGP Funding requirement: One year
TGP funding: $47,600
Industry funding: $47,600
Commercial partners: Raglan Mountain Bike Club, Raglan Chamber of Commerce, Waikato District Council and Wainui Reserves Committee, Hamilton-Waikato Regional Tourism
Steering Group Members: Raglan Mountain Bike Club, Raglan Chamber of Commerce
Estimated potential economic benefits to NZ: Over $1 million per annum by 2025.