High time to explore home
Top of the south residents are being encouraged to explore their own backyard in a "win-win" project to support the rescue helicopter and local tourism operators like the Cable Bay Adventure Park.
Top of the south residents are being encouraged to explore their own backyard and support local business through a ‘tourist passport’.
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust has launched the Your Backyard Passport initiative, to raise funds and help out tourism operators struggling in the postlockdown economy.
The $50 passport includes at total of 71 deals and discounts from 57 businesses around Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.
The passport deals range from activities like kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park, sailing in Pelorus Sound, or going on an archery adventure in Cable Bay.
Along with the passport, purchasers also get a set of stickers to tick off activities as they work their way through it.
NMRHT general manager Paula Muddle said the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown had hit both the tourism industry and the helicopter trust very hard.
‘‘We thought it would be a really good fundraiser, it’s a win-win for all parties, showing what a beautiful region we’ve got in our backyard.’’
‘‘During the process, I was amazed at some of the things I didn’t even know were here. There’s activities that international tourists have known about and come and experienced just 15 minutes from Nelson.’’
Muddle said fundraising for the trust, which provides rescue helicopter support for 200,000 people in the NelsonMarlborough region, had been badly affected by the lockdown.
‘‘We have to cancel golf tournaments, base open days, so many events. Even going forward we just don’t know if people are going to be wanting to go to events, or if they are able to financially support these events.
‘‘Our income streams dried up overnight, and we won’t be seeing any other funding until October. So we thought we’d do something in the meantime that would benefit all parties.’’
One of the participants in the passport scheme is the Cable Bay Adventure Park, which is providing four different activities, including quad-biking, e-biking, or taking a ride on the world’s biggest flying fox.
Managing director Richard Ussher said the passport was a great initiative for tourism around the region. ‘‘It’s great to be involved in something that benefits not only ourselves but also the helicoipter trust.
‘‘So far locals have been fantastic about getting out and starting to see some of the things they’ve got in their backyard.’’
The Your Backyard Passport can be purchased at your local NBS branch, or online at https:/ /www.helirescue.co.nz/backyard/