I-SITE no match for Mr Google
Civic leaders are one step away from making Hamilton the only major New Zealand centre without an i-SITE shop.
Hamilton mayor Andrew King wanted to close the service but a regional tourism boss believes it must stay.
Hamilton City Council debated whether the i-SITE in Garden Place should be closed and a ‘‘limited’’ information service be set up inside the reception of the council’s nearby headquarters.
Closing the current service could save about $5.6m over 10 years, councillors heard when they met to discuss the matter in December.
The matter was originally in the council’s long term plan, which is out for public consultation on March 29.
King initially wanted to close the i-SITE shop in July this year. He believed visitors were now using the internet to plan and receive information about Hamilton.
But a series of objections and amendments ended with a decision to ask staff to report back on the opportunities to restructure the service to return a break-even result. That report was expected around June.
Councillors Garry Mallett and Martin Gallagher supported the i-SITE be moved and could not understand those who wanted to see it remain.
‘‘It astounds me that everyone seems to be going the other way,’’ Cr Mallett said at the meeting in December.
‘‘This is clearly an obsolete delivery model. You can get everything you want on Mr Google anywhere, anytime.’’
He said it seemed some of the councillors were in ‘‘la la land’’.
If closed, Hamilton would be the only major centre in New Zealand without an i-SITE service.
King proposed a limited amount of visitor information to be made available in the form of brochure stands at the council’s municipal building. Information could also be held at the city’s transport centre and the Hamilton Gardens in order to best use existing council resources.
‘‘I’m not proposing shutting down an information, tourism and advisory service. I’m saying pick it up, move it into reception, and save somewhere between $500,000 to $800,000 a year.’’