Tourism seen as growth industry for Nelson region

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 42

Tourism seen as growth industry for Nelson region

Tourism, which has only touched Nelson lightly in the past, is one of the region’s growth industries.

For as many years as most can remember, the Nelson region has provided the vacationer with the facilities to enjoy a relaxing holiday. For the most part, these tourists — if such they can be called — have come from Canterbury. Some have been making the trip north for many years. Welcome as they all are and have been, those involved in the tourist industry have been casting hungry eyes, at the coach loads of overseas tourists who pass through or stay all too briefly in Nelson.

All this, according to Nelson’s Public Relations officer, Mr Paul Matheson, is about to change. Not only is the Public Relations Office stepping up its promotional activities on the home front next year, it is also going to make an assault on other centres. Getting the tourist — New Zealand and overseas — into Nelson has a high priority. Figures recently released by Mr Matheson from statistics taken by the Tourist and Publicity Department, show (conservatively) that the Nelson region’s visitor numbers are likely to increase by up to 70 per cent within five to six years.

If the same proportion of international visitors come to Nelson-Bays as came in 1982 (allowing for a stay of 1.5 days, and inflation adjustments), international visitors would spend $9,773 million a year or $27,500 a day. If the same proportion of New Zealanders visit Nelson-Bays as did the average between 1983 and 1985, (and allowing for an average stay of 4.9 nights each), $73.62 million would be brought into the region each year (207,000

a day), according to the statistics. This gives the Nelson region some $B3 million a year spent by tourists, holiday-makers, and other visitors for each of those years.

Until two months ago, welcome as the news was that more visitors were coming to Nelson, the figures also caused some embarrassment. Where were they all going to stay? With the demolition of the old Hotel Nelson and its replacement by a tavern, shops and a restaurant, the Quality Inn (formerly Hotel Rutherford) was the only licensed accommodation house of any size in the heart of Nelson. It is

recognised that Nelson has a chronic shortage of beds.

Then, within the space of a month, three new tourist - accommodation complexes for Nelson city were announced. The first was the $l2 million, nine-level hotel on the north-eastern site of what is known as “four spirits corner” (there was once a church, two hotels and a service station on

each of the corners of the intersection). This will cater for 140 guests. It is hoped to get the project under way mid-way through 1987.

Site work is now proceeding at Tahunanui for

a $2.8 million motel complex fronting on to both Muritai Street and Beach Road (overlooking the recreation area). This complex, the project of two Taiwanese recently granted permanent

residential status, is planned to house as many as 20 parties of Taiwanese making Pacific tours. There would be about 25 in each group. Initially, 28 units will be built and provision would be made for a further eight. Mr Sydney Lo, one of the two owners, hopes to have the project opened on October 1 next year when the second owner, Mr Herman Lo will be here to settle in New Zealand.

The third development is sited at the airport. Morgold Enterprises an-

nounced in October that it planned to build a Harvey Wallbanger Lodge on a I.2ha site close to the airport terminal. Initially 30 bedrooms catering for tourists and conventions would be built and at stage two a further 36 rooms would be built. The first stage would be commenced next year.

Within the last two years, several large luxury motel complexes have been built at Tahunanui and in central Nelson and these, too, should go a

long way towards overcoming the bed shortage.