A national review of i-SITE visitor centres is likely to affect Central Otago’s main information facilities, particularly two which are not currently part of its network.

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) manage Roxburgh and Ranfurly i-SITEs and have arrangements to collaborate with privately-run information centres at The Gate Hotel in Cromwell and Unichem Alexandra Pharmacy in Alexandra.

The network’s visitor centres nationwide have suffered a dramatic decline in patronage and the i-SITE system was generally in need of revitalisation, according to a review being presented to CODC next week.

Both Cromwell and Alexandra previously had information centres that were part of the national i-SITE network, which is managed as a subsidiary of Tourism New Zealand. The changes being proposed through the review may enable them to benefit from joining a re-branded version of the network, according to a CODC report.

National review figures for New Zealand's i-SITE visit ... how a dramatic decline in spending.

Competition from other holiday booking options and rising costs for running the centres was already contributing to i-sites closing and visitor numbers dropping before the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the wake of the pandemic the number of visitors using i-sites had dropped by 57% and their spend by 62%.

A new two-tier system is being proposed with centres who opt for ‘tier one’ paying higher fees to become concept stores, delivering an enhanced visitor experience in key locations.

Similar fees to existing levels would be charged to those adopting ‘tier two’. These centres would operate under a yet-to-be developed secondary brand but would work closely with tier one ‘hub’ centres. 

Each would promote each other to customers to encourage regional spread of visitors.

The review encouraged less focus on commercialisation and more on community engagement and guardianship of natural, built and cultural resources, the report stated.

CODC staff have recommended that a “non-binding expression of interest” be put to i-SITE NZ(Visitor Information Network Inc) to have Roxburgh and Ranfurly become ‘tier two’ centres, if the proposed new system is adopted and successful in gaining funding from central government.  

They also have recommended a similar expression of interest be put forward for a ‘tier one or two’ centre be located in Cromwell and Alexandra. 

Staff outlined how council could work toward gaining that status for the existing centres in those two towns. The centres cannot apply themselves because they are not part of the i-SITE system.  

Council will discuss the proposal at its monthly meeting on Wednesday which is to be livestreamed due to Covid-19 restrictions. The public livestream link will be available on the council’s website here.