Market ‘closer to home’

While Marlborough Tour Company (MTC) might have established businesses dotted around the region, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it feel like a ‘‘start-up’’, says the chief executive.

Abbe Hutchins says the company had been coming up with new ways to remind locals what’s on their doorstep.

‘‘It’s one of those situations where you don’t expect your market to be turned off in the way that it was,’’ Hutchins said.

MTC owned and operated several businesses in the region including Punga Cove, Furneaux Lodge, Cougar Line and Pelorus Mail Boat.

The business was exploring ways to attract locals and domestic tourists.

The company was owned by the Burkhart family, who took full ownership last November. Prior to that they had a 50 per cent share in the company.

‘‘The market is closer to home now, it’s easier for people to do things in their own backyard,’’ Hutchins said.

Budget 2020 saw the Government announce a $400 million targeted tourism recovery fund and a domestic tourism campaign, alongside an extension of the wage subsidy scheme.

The industry directly employed more than 229,000 people in New Zealand and was a major export industry.

It first saw demand fall in January when Chinese travellers stopped arriving, with border closures compounding the pain.

‘‘I think over time we will get more people to Marlborough. There’s no reason why we can’t, say, get people coming from the North Island, but I think it will take a bit of time because it takes a wee bit longer to plan and organise,’’ Hutchins said.

‘‘Marlborough is a fantastic region.

‘‘It caters to everyone, there’s nothing not to like about it, it’s possibly just an area that might have dropped off people’s radar.

‘‘I’d say there’s definitely people in the region that have places still to explore.’’

Hutchins said the business felt like a ‘‘start-up’’.

‘‘It’s honestly just like starting again. We’re going out there and testing our products and adjusting them if we need to, and seeing how we go and where we can get to,’’ she said.

Packages designed by MTC included different cruises across the Marlborough Sounds, as well as dining options at both Punga Cove and Furneaux Lodge.

More information can be found at marlboroughtourcompany.co.nz/ deals.

A Marlborough rescue team was called to a search of its own, while preparing to join the search for two missing trampers in Golden Bay.

A police spokeswoman said they were notified of a lost tramper on Mount Stokes, the highest peak in the Marlborough Sounds, about 8pm on Friday.

Marlborough Land Search and Rescue (LANDSAR) were already at the Blenheim Police Station, preparing to join the search for Dion Reynolds and Jessica O’connor, who failed to return from a tramp in Kahurangi National Park, when they received the call.

Marlborough LANDSAR chairman Peter Hamill said the lost tramper had used his mobile phone to contact police, so they were able to track his GPS location.