Destination Wairarapa’s The Great Wairarapa Escape Competition. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Walt Dickson
Wellington people craving a quick get-away to Wairarapa after the covid-19 lockdown, now have an added incentive – The Great Wairarapa Escape competition – which runs until June 8.
The Regional Tourism Organisation, Destination Wairarapa, is helping to roll out the welcome mat with four fabulous prize packages, each pitched at a different demographic.
Family, food and wine, nature and a ‘girls escape’ are the themes of the prize packages, all with the Wellington market in mind.
Destination Wairarapa marketing manager Barbara Hyde says, Wellington is Wairarapa’s biggest market, so why not give them an added incentive to come on over.
“There are so many ways to escape here and things to do, there really is something for everyone so we wanted to give away prize packages that reflect this,” she said.
“When you think about all that there is to do for families in and around Masterton, it’s a no-brainer to offer a great package for a young family that may have been cooped-up in Wellington, to escape here for the weekend and have some fun.”
The campaign has strong support from Wairarapa tourism and hospitality businesses who are chipping in with competition prizes.
Tourism is big business in Wairarapa; visitor spend in the region last year topped $205 million, of which 45 per cent was from Wellington.
Since it has not been reliant on international visitors, Wairarapa is thought to be well placed to weather the post-covid-19 storm, particularly with the Government’s drive to grow domestic tourism.
One of New Zealand’s top food and wine destinations, Wairarapa is a region of spectacular coastlines, big skies, wide-open valleys and colonial townships – the perfect tonic after a seven-week-long covid-19 lockdown.
Cafes and restaurants and cellar doors and shops are open again, and accommodation providers are already welcoming guests to the region.
Being just over an hour away from Wellington, means the region is an ideal getaway for Wellington residents.
“They can make a short trip and get a big change of scene.
People have a lot on their plates right now – we wanted to give them a chance to win a great escape and come and enjoy all that we have to offer.”
Destination Wairarapa will be using its extensive email database, website and social media channels to ensure the campaign achieves maximum impact, Ms Hyde said.
- Enter the competition online at: www.wairarapanz.com/win
