Timaru told: turn on the welcome
Businesses within Timaru’s CBD are being encouraged to take advantage of the record number of cruise ship visits to the town this summer, with the easy walking distance from the port to downtown a ‘‘unique opportunity’’ for travellers.
With the announcement last week that cruise ships will return to Timaru in a recordbreaking 12 visits to the port, the region’s hospitality branch president and the CBD chairperson are urging business owners to make the most of the opportunities an influx of visitors will bring.
While most of the vessels set down to arrive will have between 450 and 600 passengers, one larger ship, making four visits, will carry up to 1900 passengers.
Timaru CBD chairperson Allan Booth, a district councillor seeking re-election this year, said the visits were a great ‘‘restart’’ for the cruise business. The vessels have not been permitted to come to New Zealand waters since March 2020 because of the pandemic.
‘‘And the realisation of having a CBD within easy walking distance of the birthed ship creates a unique opportunity only matched by Auckland,’’ Booth said.
‘‘This can only be enhanced even more through the new proposed key connections programme being considered, within the CityTown revitalisation underway at present.’’
While it would be up to individual businesses normally closed on the days the ships will visit, to open especially, Booth said the CBD group could ‘‘only encourage those businesses to embrace any potential business opportunity for the betterment of not only themselves, but the wider CBD and our destination reputation’’.
‘‘The Timaru destination and CBD, can do very well from the cruise ships visits, provided the key stakeholders get in behind them,’’ Booth said.
Hospitality South Canterbury branch manager Kristy Phillips said the ships would bring a new range of visitors to town, and it was hoped they would get a taste for the district and want to return for a longer stay.
When asked if the hospitality industry in the region would be ready to welcome an influx of people to town, Phillips said almost every industry in South Canterbury was dealing with challenges with staffing, supply chains and operating hours.
‘‘We [hospitality] are not alone in this.
‘‘Our local hospitality operators have shown their resilience and adaptability and of course will be doing all that they can to welcome as many people as we can to this great district of ours.
‘‘There is a focus on growing the skills of our own local talent and looking after our people, so they are ready for the summer season we have all been waiting for.’’
Phillips said she looked forward to working with Venture Timaru ‘‘and the rest of the town’’ to welcome the visitors.
‘‘While many have preplanned adventures, we will be doing our best to provide a great experience for those that stay in town.’’
When asked what she would do if she was a tourist coming to Timaru, Phillips said she liked to explore towns on foot ‘‘finding the hidden treasures that the locals love’’.
‘‘Some of our local attractions such as Te Ana are also a mustdo, as well as supporting as many hospitality venues as possible of course.’’
The first vessel arrives on December 15, with the Seabourn Odyessey, carrying 458 passengers. The Noordam, carrying up to 1900 passengers, will make four visits.