Living in a tourist resort you see and meet many visitors in all manor of touring mode. From the rental car or campervan, the package bus tourist or the traveller that has many months to meander through New Zealand. One thing is common, visitors rarely get off the beaten track to explore some of the lesser but equally awe inspiring sights or activities.
Most scenic hot spots have visitor ‘i-SIGHT’ and Dept. of Conservation (DOC) offices that will supply travellers with information.
i-SIGHT’s are usually located in the prime centre of towns, where as DOC offices may not be as obvious in some locations.
The i-SIGHT or visitor information sights are accredited member of New Zealand’s official Visitor Information Network endorsed by Tourism New Zealand. That said, i-SITE’s are also commission based booking offices. They have good local knowledge but are primarily there to book tours and accommodation. They offer impartial advice within this field but they are there to sell the services of the local businesses that are registered with them.
i-SIGHT’s are funded by local council rates and charge businesses a registration fee. If a business is not registered with these visitor information sights, then these businesses will not be promoted by the i-SIGHT.
There is no advantage to the local business community in promoting the word “free”, however some of New Zealand’s best gems are tucked away down little dirt roads, often not even sign posted.
For example, if you were to enquire at the official i-SIGHT about trout fishing at Lake Wanaka, you would be given a run down on all the commercial operators. You would be asked what type of fishing you wish to do, fly, trawling, remote heli guided etc etc. You would not be told that you can purchase a daily fishing licence, rod and reel and take yourself down a well formed road to a well known river and fish for free.
The cost of the rod and reel will be a fraction of the cost of a fishing tour operator. The Clutha river has some of the best trout fishing in the world and is located only five kilometres from the town centre and the i-SIGHT.
To get good local information on activities and sights you are best to visit the Dept of Conservation office. DOC has no commercial incentive and offers good free advice and information booklets containing maps about local attractions. Once equipped with this information you can then decide if you require a commercial operator to experience the desired activity or attraction by visiting the i-SIGHT.
Tags: Dept of Conservation, DOC, iSIGHT, Wanaka
The ratepayer funded “Information Centre” model is well past is expiry date. This feel good brochure rack service provided by local government should be divested forthwith.
Ratepayers do not get a satisfactory ROI.
It is dubious if the majority of accommodation providers and tourism operators that subsidise these centres by fees, commissions and targeted rates get reasonable value.
Private enterprise should take over the running of these operations in main tourism areas where this would be feasible. In marginal areas, i-sites could be run by private trusts or not for profit community groups.
Believe it or not operators are very passionate about what they do and the area they operate in. It is in their interest to work in with others and ensure that tourists have a good time and leave their area of business satisfied with the experience…so an operator would often advise “free” or cost effective activities to compliment what they are offering.
The internet and savvy individual operators have made i-sites redundant. The money spent on propping up many of these i-sites would be better in the back pockets of operators.
And as for DOC…well that’s another story…
I should add that “this feel good brochure rack service” charge business for the privilege of displaying brochures in addition to the registration fee. Also the rating levy on commercial property is extraordinarily high and does not reflect the nature of the property or business. That is, it is a uniform charge that applies to all rateable commercial property regardless of the usage.
Unfortunately businesses that have no tourist clientele still are charged the extra rating to support tourism promotion and the i-SITE . Retailers that service the building industry for example and located in the industrial area, also pay this tourism rating tax. This extra levy results in all businesses increasing margins to recover this cost. This burden is then passed on and paid for by all in the community.