Tourism, Events and Hospitality
Tourism
Background
Tourism is reported to be the second highest employer in the Waikato economy. Two-thirds of Waikato visitor expenditure comes from the domestic market. Included in this spending is transportation including petrol, retail, restaurants/cafes, accommodation and attractions. These services tend to require high levels of customer service and so are significant employers of full-time and casual staff.
In 2006, tourism was the fourth largest sector in the Waikato economy in terms of sales revenue.
The region has a few iconic atttactions e.g. Hobbiton in Matamata and the Waitomo caves. It has natural resources such as beaches in the Coromandel on the East Coast and Raglan to the West. Lake Karapiro and the Waikato River offer rowing and waterskiing opportunities. The Hamilton Gardens, and Hamilton Zoo receive acclaim and Te Aroha sports mineral hot pools. Horse races around the region attract crowds.
Hamilton City is positioning itself as an Events City. It hosts the V8 Supercars event in April, Balloons over Waikato and is building an impressive Events Centre in Claudelands. It also has Waikato Stadium which stages many rugby games and events, and is hosting several games in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Lake Karapiro, just outside of Cambridge, is home to the 2010 World Rowing Cup.
Mystery Creek, near Hamilton's International Airport, has held the Agricultural Fieldays for over 50 years. This is an enormous event which in 2009 attracted 117,000 visitors.
At Turangawaewae, in Ngaruawahia, there are annual waka races.
Some more facts for you:
- In 2006, tourism comprised 9.6% of New Zealand's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generated $18.9 billion in visitor expenditure, and employed 9.9% of the workforce.
- Tourism was also New Zealand's highest single export earner in 2006, comprising 19.2% of total exports and generating $8.3 billion, followed by dairy at $5.9 billion.
- Tourism contributed 11.8% of employment in 2006 within the Waikato Regional Council boundary.
- Two-thirds of Waikato visitor expenditure comes from the domestic market. Using a multiplier of 3.18, visitor expenditure delivered $2,557 million in 2006 and is forecast to deliver $3,183 million in 2012, within the former Tourism Waikato boundary.
Career Paths
Waikato is home to small and large accommodation facilities. In Hamilton the Novotel and Ibis hotels are large employers.
Tourism and Travel courses are available from Sir George Seymour School of Travel and Tourism, as well as Wintec. Wintec also offers courses in Cookery and Catering.
School of International Tourism, Hospitality and Events
(includes tourism, catering and cookery, food and beverage)
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Department of Geography, Tourism and Environmental Planning
Careers in Tourism can range from retail/ reception/ bar service staff, cleaning services, kitchen hands through to chefs, travel agents, tour guides, hotel and tourist attraction developers and managers. There are other specialised jobs related to the tourism sector including zoo keepers, conservation staff, museum curators among others.
Front-line tourism occupations generally suit "people-people" - i.e. those that relate to people well, and are happy to serve their needs. These are extremely important roles, because for many tourists it is the people and the service that they receive from them that can be the most memorable part of their visit.
Future
The recent securing of an international airline carrying passengers between Australia and Hamilton will assist with bringing in tourists to the Waikato region. Australians make up the highest proportion of visitors to New Zealand. They may use the airport in Winter as a gateway to skiing at Mt Ruapehu.
The Government has indicated an increased emphasis on Tourism, as international tourists bring in money from outside New Zealand boosting our economy. The building of a national cycleway is one idea of how to increase tourism to New Zealand. The 2011 Rugby World Cup is seen as an opportunity to showcase our country, and our region, to the world.
The Waikato region's tourism should develop further as a Regional Tourism Organisation is established, and current attractions, events and trails are better promoted.
