Keep it 'simple' to lure tourists
|
LUCIE CARY/ Marlborough Express IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Frommer's travel editor, Alexia Travaglini, visits the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre as part of a trip through Marlborough. |
Marlborough should not build itself up into a resort area, but keep things "comfortable" to attract the tourists, says visiting international travel writer Alexia Travaglini.
Mrs Travaglini is currently travelling through Marlborough as part of a nine-day tour through Wellington, Marlborough and Nelson for travel website Frommer's.
More than 15 million people view the website each month, Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston said.
Besides a blog about her trip, the American-based travel editor would publish a longer story about her Marlborough experience when she returned home.
Speaking during a visit to Blenheim's Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre yesterday morning, Mrs Travaglini said she found Picton had an appealing international flavour, and she was about to experience the vineyards.
She liked Marlborough's simplistic and easy approach to tourism.
"In all honesty, I think maybe keeping it simple is more attractive than trying to build it up into a resort area," she said.
"Not totally rustic, but comfortable. There's a good blend. I would hate to see it reach that tipping point."
Having spent days around Wellington Harbour followed by a Cook Strait ferry trip and then the Marlborough Sounds, Mrs Travaglini said she felt as if New Zealand had a "water culture" that she compared to Venice or Alaska, where more people had boats than cars to get around.
Mrs Travaglini went on a Greenshell Mussel Cruise from Havelock, stayed and dined at Portage Resort Hotel and walked from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge with a guide.
She tried abalone at Picton's Le Cafe and has sampled a few Marlborough wines.
She was looking forward to trying varieties not widely available in the United States and by yesterday was impressed with Stoneleigh's pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, but was about to embark on a wine tour to try more.
Mrs Travaglini also enjoyed Nobilo's sauvignon blanc, which was available in her home country.
Mrs Johnston said Mrs Travaglini was invited to Marlborough through Tourism New Zealand's international media programme, that aims to put New Zealand into the spotlight through international media outlets.