Not surprising Chch voted second best in the world by NYT
Not surprising Christchurch voted second best in the
world by the New York
Times
January 19,
2014
A University of Canterbury (UC)
tourism researcher says it is not surprising Christchurch
has been voted the second best city to visit in the world by
the New York Times.
Dr Girish Prayag says since the
earthquakes various initiatives and projects have been
launched to make Christchurch an attractive place, such as
the innovation precinct, Te Papa Otakaro and the Performing
Arts Precinct.
``We have entrepreneurs showcasing
the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of the people and
businesses of Christchurch.
``Coupled with the
collaborative spirit of Cantabrians in general, the city has
embarked on a development path that not only showcases
resilience but also vibrancy, prosperity and accessibility.
``These are also criteria used to evaluate cities
in general. Christchurch has become the city that symbolises
hope, transformation, adaptation and revival and hence
attracts attention from writers. The focus of such a top
ranking is on the new and the positive about cities rather
than what does not work in the rebirth of a city,’’ Dr
Prayag says.
The New York Times praised
Christchurch's ingenuity, and its entrepreneurs and
volunteers, who are finding ways to make temporary use of
empty spaces, bringing life back into the city. The
influential daily newspaper came up with the list of 52
places to visit in 2014.
Dr Prayag says the
international recognition gives credit to the efforts of all
stakeholders in rebuilding the city, including volunteers.
``It contributes to the popularity of Christchurch
as a tourist destination and creates awareness among
potential investors that the city is on a growth path. This
ranking may also influence new immigrants to NZ and
businesses to start up in Christchurch.
``It may
influence business confidence and public support for the
various initiatives and projects in place.
``This
is not the only list that Christchurch has been ranked among
the best cities in the world. Last year, Lonely Planet put
Christchurch at number six on its list of Top 10 Cities for
2013, describing the city as `rising from the rubble with a
breath-taking mix of spirit, determination and
flair’.
``Positive media attention such as this
generates awareness and interest in places but may not
necessarily convert into actual travel to the destination.
For tourism, this contributes positively to the reputation
of the city.
``It counteracts some of the negative
media coverage post-quake that may have deterred people from
visiting. It may attract international students wishing to
pursue studies in NZ.
``The Gap Filler programme
is absolutely brilliant. It injects innovation and
creativity within the city that may be attractive to
backpackers, independent travellers and volunteer tourists.
It uses empty space as a palette for residents and others to
express ideas and thoughts about the city,’’ Dr Prayag
say
ENDS