Major boost for Tourism in Taumarunui

Press Release: Epic Cycle Adventures

Major boost for Tourism in Taumarunui

Tourism in Taumarunui received a big boost last week with two local companies winning several awards at the inaugural Ruapehu Tourism Awards.

Epic Cycle Adventures, a new bike hire and shuttle business focusing on the Timber Trail, won the award for Best Use of Online and Social Media. Another local company, Forgotten World Adventures, which runs self-drive rail cart tours along the old Taumarunui-Stratford railway line, was runner up in this category.

Forgotten World Adventures then won the prestigious Best New Business Award which meant that the Taumarunui companies scooped two of the five main awards on offer on the night. In addition Epic Cycle Adventures was selected to attend TRENZ 2014 as part of the Visit Ruapehu delegation. TRENZ is New Zealand’s biggest annual international tourism event. New Zealand’s leading providers of visitor accommodation, transport, activities and attractions showcase their product to more than 260 international travel and tourism buyers from New Zealand’s major and emerging visitor markets. During four days of focused business-to-business activity, they negotiate business agreements for forthcoming seasons, ensuring New Zealand’s vibrant $9.3 billion export tourism industry continues to grow.

Epic's Paul Goulding was thrilled with the awards.

"It's not only a boost for my business, but a boost for Tourism in our area. I will be going to TRENZ to not only promote my business and the amazing Timber Trail, but to promote the Taumarunui region as a tourist destination. For too long Taumarunui has been regarded as the little town you drive through on the way to the Mountain, but we need to change that perception. We are adopting the motto- 'Don't Drive Through, Come to, Taumarunui'. There are countless attractions in the area and we need to market ourselves as a tourist destination."

The Ruapehu Tourism awards will be held every two years.

ENDS

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