May 23, 2009
Marlborough District Council (MDC) Mayor Alister Sowman expects to ask the incoming general manager of Destination Marlborough how they can “deliver increased economic benefit through tourism”. He also wants similar questions posed to representatives of each key driver of the regional economy being invited to a Marlborough opportunities summit in planning for June.
The MDC’s regional economic development questions are focused around four key drivers – viticulture, aquaculture, aviation and tourism the Mayor says. The Marlborough Chamber of Commerce is facilitating the economic development summit, likely to be held in June at the Marlborough Convention Centre. Chamber president, Brian Dawson, says the summit’s emphasis will be on opportunities, and people from the four key drivers’ and other sectors are being invited to participate.
MDC will take advice from the incoming Destination Marlborough (DM) general manager and consider how it fits into MDC’s regional economic development strategy, the Mayor told the Talking business column before Tracy Johnston’s appointment became known. We want to work out strategies to increase economic performance, and we will want to build up plans as to where economic development goes says the Mayor.
MDC is now looking at regional economic development in a new light. “It has taken economic development for the region back in house” the Mayor says, referring particularly to one of the role changes for the Marlborough Regional Development Trust (MRDT). MRDT is continuing with projects.
Mr Sowman says MDC has had very little influence over DM, receiving six monthly reports and an annual marketing plan from it, reflecting a policy a letting the board identify the issues.
Infrastructure (desirably with central government support)is one emphasis in the evolving MDC approach affecting tourism, the intent to discuss regional economic development with DM’s new gm is the other, says the Mayor.
We want to see which drivers we can use to advance Marlborough’s competitive edge, but we don’t have a set agenda he says.
“We are moving towards a much closer relationship with our neighbouring councils, particularly Nelson and Tasman” he says. It is now about bringing tourists to the top of the South – both domestic and international tourists – “this is relatively new”.
The Mayor suggested the Marlborough opportunities summit, says Mr Dawson, Marlborough Chamber of Commerce president, who is heading a working group on summit detail. Brian Dawson says the Chamber and the MDC have a very good working relationship. Initial planning for the Marlborough opportunities summit follows the Prime minister’s jobs summit and some regional summits, including in Nelson.
The Marlborough opportunities summit is to be a beginning, with a taskforce to take ideas forward says Mr Dawson.
“Companies and industries tend to operate in silos, so we are looking at cross industry collaboration” he says. We also want the four key drivers and other sectors to work together.
We want people from the tourism and other sectors to come to the opportunities summit. The Marlborough chamber of commerce is establishing from its contacts who to invite. “We would be interested in hearing from anybody who would like to make an input, who has identified opportunities for Marlborough” says Mr Dawson, a small business owner working in the banking and disability sectors.
In addition, we will ask participants two questions in advance.
Firstly, what opportunities do you see for your sector?
Secondly, what opportunities do you see for Marlborough linkages with the other sectors? says Mr Dawson.
By Anthony Haas, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marlborough District Council (MDC) Mayor Alister Sowman expects to ask the incoming general manager of Destination Marlborough how they can “deliver increased economic benefit through tourism”. He also wants similar questions posed to representatives of each key driver of the regional economy being invited to a Marlborough opportunities summit in planning for June.
The MDC’s regional economic development questions are focused around four key drivers – viticulture, aquaculture, aviation and tourism the Mayor says. The Marlborough Chamber of Commerce is facilitating the economic development summit, likely to be held in June at the Marlborough Convention Centre. Chamber president, Brian Dawson, says the summit’s emphasis will be on opportunities, and people from the four key drivers’ and other sectors are being invited to participate.
MDC will take advice from the incoming Destination Marlborough (DM) general manager and consider how it fits into MDC’s regional economic development strategy, the Mayor told the Talking business column before Tracy Johnston’s appointment became known. We want to work out strategies to increase economic performance, and we will want to build up plans as to where economic development goes says the Mayor.
MDC is now looking at regional economic development in a new light. “It has taken economic development for the region back in house” the Mayor says, referring particularly to one of the role changes for the Marlborough Regional Development Trust (MRDT). MRDT is continuing with projects.
Mr Sowman says MDC has had very little influence over DM, receiving six monthly reports and an annual marketing plan from it, reflecting a policy a letting the board identify the issues.
Infrastructure (desirably with central government support)is one emphasis in the evolving MDC approach affecting tourism, the intent to discuss regional economic development with DM’s new gm is the other, says the Mayor.
We want to see which drivers we can use to advance Marlborough’s competitive edge, but we don’t have a set agenda he says.
“We are moving towards a much closer relationship with our neighbouring councils, particularly Nelson and Tasman” he says. It is now about bringing tourists to the top of the South – both domestic and international tourists – “this is relatively new”.
The Mayor suggested the Marlborough opportunities summit, says Mr Dawson, Marlborough Chamber of Commerce president, who is heading a working group on summit detail. Brian Dawson says the Chamber and the MDC have a very good working relationship. Initial planning for the Marlborough opportunities summit follows the Prime minister’s jobs summit and some regional summits, including in Nelson.
The Marlborough opportunities summit is to be a beginning, with a taskforce to take ideas forward says Mr Dawson.
“Companies and industries tend to operate in silos, so we are looking at cross industry collaboration” he says. We also want the four key drivers and other sectors to work together.
We want people from the tourism and other sectors to come to the opportunities summit. The Marlborough chamber of commerce is establishing from its contacts who to invite. “We would be interested in hearing from anybody who would like to make an input, who has identified opportunities for Marlborough” says Mr Dawson, a small business owner working in the banking and disability sectors.
In addition, we will ask participants two questions in advance.
Firstly, what opportunities do you see for your sector?
Secondly, what opportunities do you see for Marlborough linkages with the other sectors? says Mr Dawson.
By Anthony Haas, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it