A sword of uncertainty is hanging on Hamilton’s i-SITE, the official visitor information centre that provides visitors with information.
If it was up to Mayor Andrew King, the i-SITE shop would have shut in July last year. His reasons were visitors now use the internet to plan and seek information rather than visiting a physical site.
In his 10-year plan, the Mayor had recommended moving the i-SITE from its current location in the Garden Place into the council’s reception area itself. This, according to his proposal, would save about $5.6m over 10 years.
“Pick it up and move it into reception and save somewhere between $500,000 and $800,000 a year,” he said.
The Mayor proposed brochure stands at the council’s building and information could also be made available at the transport centre and Hamilton Gardens.
After a series of discussions/amendments in the Council meeting in December, the item was removed from the agenda. i-SITE now has time until June to find ways to break-even.
I-SITE has a rostered staff of 9 and offered advice to over 4,30,000 visitors during 2016-17.
There are 80 i-SITE shops nationwide and the i-SITE New Zealand brand is owned and managed by Tourism New Zealand.
– from NewsViews