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The Nelson – Marlborough – West Coast edition of TOURIST TIMES serves the needs of the tourism operators of a region that gains much attention from a diverse visitor market.
Perhaps this should not be surprising as this is an area that is full of contrasts – from the tranquil Marlborough Sounds to the rugged shoreline of the West Coast, from formal gardens to native bush, hot and sunny beaches to ice cold glaciers, art to wildlife, wine and gourmet food to adventure activities! The opportunities to participate in nature-based activities in the region are numerous - during 2008 (latest available data) 91 percent of all visitors to the West Coast undertook at least one nature-based activity! Nelson also rated highly, with 70 percent, while Marlborough attracted many wine tourists – this is, after all, one of the four main wine regions of New Zealand.
 Marlborough is known for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc wine - the region is dotted by wineries. But its beauty is also its land formations and stunning waterways that make up the Marlborough Sounds. There are many activities within the Sounds and around Picton township. South of Picton is the main centre of Blenheim, home to the wonderful Aviation Heritage Centre. Towards the west from Blenheim is Havelock, the mussel capital of New Zealand. Nelson is the next destination – this very English city is known as the city of history and trees, and it lies in a stunning seaside setting and is protected from inclement weather by magnificent hills. Nelson is the very geographical centre of New Zealand, and lies under a hot sun that brings the most sunshine hours of anywhere in the country. Nelson and the surrounding region is known for artistry and excellent food, In contrast to the urban centre are the hills and plains that make up the beautiful Golden Bay and the tourism mecca that is the Abel Tasman National Park. Continuing south, one soon reaches the wild West Coast. This province is 600 kilometres long, but never any wider than 70 kilometres. The ‘Coast is known for its abundant wildlife (such as the kiwi, the white heron and the world’s rarest penguins), the towering mountains with alpine flora and vast forests, rugged coastline, crystal clear waters and accessible glaciers. The West Coast is a wonderful destination at any time of the year.The Regional Tourism Outlook
The visitor market is increasing in size. The forecast to 2015 for all three regions, according Ministry of Tourism statistics, is for growth – Marlborough and Nelson regions can expect an annual increase of almost 1 percent each, while the West Coast anticipates a 1.3 percent growth.
Marlborough can expect an additional 149,000 visitor nights by 2015, with 103,000 of those being from overseas. This will provide that region with 2.14 million visitor nights that year.
Across to the Nelson region, the annual growth of visitor nights is expected to be 1.1 percent and again the greatest growth is from the international market. Visits from international tourists is forecast to increase by almost 15 percent!
Further south, the West Coast is a destination which attracts a great number of travellers who are wanting to “get off the beaten track”, such as the European market. The increase in visitors to the ‘Coast is anticipated to be an extra 212,000 people by 2015 and, of those, almost 162,000 will come from overseas.
 TOURIST TIMES covers that entire area. The monthly print run of approximately 5,000 copies is available from around 100 selected sites located within the region, from Picton in the north to Haast Pass in the south. This ensures a high readership and effectiveness for the advertiser.Given that only 15 percent of all visitors (international and domestic) to New Zealand have made arrangements for activities before they arrive, 85 percent have not! For Nelson and the West Coast regions, the proportion of freedom travellers without any arrangements made is likely to be even greater. They arrive looking for things to do and places to go, and this is where TOURIST TIMES comes into its own. They are picking up TOURIST TIMES from visitor information centres, tourist attractions and accommodation houses and reading it as a convenient guide as they go. For many tourism businesses, this is the last opportunity they will get to capture the attention of the tourist before they pass by the door.
So it stands to reason that, if your business is looking to capture a greater share of the tourist trade that is going past your doorstep, TOURIST TIMES is the place to be seen. And you will find our affordable prices a pleasant surprise!
TOURIST TIMES is distributed to tourists throughout the region. This includes from i-SITES and visitor information centres, accommodation houses and the sightseeing attractions that tourists use in Nelson (including Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park), Marlborough (including Picton, Blenheim, Havelock, wineries, etc) and on the West Coast (including Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, the glaciers, etc).
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