The Department of Conservation’s permanent closure of its Millers Acre Visitor Centre over Easter is bad for Nelson and a backwards step for tourism and conservation.
Nelson’s strength in tourism is our connection to nature and our great outdoor experiences. Our stunning three national parks and superb climate provides world class walking, mountain biking, rafting and kayaking adventures. We need DOC in an accessible and high-profile site and offering a friendly and interactive service.
I get wonderful feedback on the current service provided from the DOC counter staff. It is a strategic mistake to assume all visitor information can be provided online. You will rarely find a visitor praise a city for its great website. It is the positive interactions with people and reputation as a friendly place that makes for long term success in tourism.
This DOC closure follows the decision by Council’s Regional Development Agency to close the then joint iSite at Millers Acre in June 2022. It was announced as a two year pause to review and rethink, but nothing has replaced it.
It has frustrated DOC that 30% of the inquiries are not about DOC, but about accommodation, hospitality and other activities. Visitors, particularly internationals, don’t know whether a park or activity is DOC or Council and just want information on what they can do while here.
The closure is a blow to Council’s vision for Millers Acre as a hub for building Nelson’s tourism identity for arts and nature. We have just completed the integrated bus hub that brings onto one site the InterCity bus services, the eBus network and minibus services to our national parks. The north building is being transformed into an arts hub for the Arts Development Agency this winter.
Council resolved last Thursday to write to the Ministers of Conservation and Tourism asking them to reconsider. The closure is contrary to the good work Government is doing to rebuild NZ tourism. Our request is that Government engage with Council on how a centre can be retained. Our visitors need a friendly shop face on the many DOC and other experiences our region has to offer.
