Destination Great Lake Taupō is concerned about the future of the local tourism sector after losing 20% of its annual funding from Taupō District Council in the latest long-term plan. In its draft Long Term Plan, Taupō District Council proposed to cut funding to $1.7 million over the next financial year, having contributed $2.
1m in the past financial year. At the council’s LTP Hearings and Deliberations last month, acting general manager of DGLT, Amanda West, said tourism contributed “substantially” to Taupō’s economy with an annual impact of between $730m and $1 billion. “That’s a return of $800 for every $1 spent on attracting visitors here.
Our website lovetaupo[.com] ranks third in views among New Zealand’s major tourism destinations - and that’s effectively down to our marketing efforts.” DGLT board member Tom Loughlin told the meeting that Taupō had an “exceptional performance” in capturing visitor expenditure, even surpassing regions like Rotorua .
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