News
International engagements lead to enrolments
Japanese education providers and students are booking Whanganui visits following successful international education engagements with local secondary schools.
A hugely successful summer for events in Whanganui is just the start says Whanganui & Partners’ Jonathan Sykes.
Sykes, who oversees Whanganui & Partners’ marketing and events functions, believes that events have a good platform to grow at present.
There is greater certainty for event organisers emerging, he says, alongside additional funding support from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to support funding provided locally by Whanganui & Partners.
“We’ve been a big supporter of all the well-known Whanganui events for a concerted period of time. We’ve also been helping to unlock other areas of funding provided by central government. Local funding has, in some cases, been matched by MBIE funding. This additional support is testament to the standing of those events and their own hard work.
“We’ve also supported a number of newer events, the recent Sound Valley music festival being an example, as well as working with the organisers to bring Hoop Nation back to Whanganui.”
Consumer spend reports, commissioned by Whanganui & Partners, showed a 2.0 per cent uplift in consumer spending during Vintage Weekend versus the previous year. Cemetery Circuit showed a 5.6 per cent increase, while data for the recent Masters Games is being compiled.
“We’ve seen tourism growth during this period that has been top of the country. This growth shows we’ve not only managed to replace lost international visitor spend, we’ve created a surplus. These events have helped contribute towards that story.”
Whanganui & Partners’ event funding applications (for events from July 2021 to June 2022) open on April 1 and close on May 31 and Sykes is encouraging applications to be made early.
“It is a competitive process with plenty of organisations looking to grow. It also provides events with additional marketing support and insight through the team here at Whanganui & Partners. We want to hear from anyone looking to bring an event to Whanganui where a substantial number of visitors are expected and organisers feel it will benefit Whanganui’s reputation.
“The momentum is building nicely and we want to make sure that once international visitors are back, we can truly make the most of it for the betterment of our economy and community.”
You can find out more, and download an application form, through our Event Support & Funding page.
