Urban Tourism - The Tourism Board in Auckland - Admission/Application Essay Example

Urban Tourism Introduction Nothing can be more interesting than being a host for a couple during their tour, more so in Auckland. My task for ten days was an interesting and memorable considering the couple in this case were my own parents. Combined with the thrill of hosting my own parents and touring them around Auckland was my in-knowledge of their likes, dislikes, and wishes when it comes to matters of choosing tourist destinations and fun activities. Nothing could have been more enthralling to plan than the ten day event. My parents both emanate from a middle class society and share a myriad of likes. Most notable is their mutual love for shopping activities and it is commonplace to spot the couple taking rounds at local shopping malls from time to time. My father, 52 years, and my mother, 48 years, also enjoy taking part in various fun activities like playing and taking part in water events. They love to engage in leisure activities that involve basking at the beach, taking boat rides, and even skating. In tandem with that, the couple enjoys international cuisines and, historical sceneries, and heritage cultures. While in outings, my parents spend significant time in relaxation activities such as massages. In summation, the two take share almost similar preferences when to movies and music. As is common to most ladies, my mother does not share the same preferences like my father when it comes to sports activities. While my father is an ardent supporter of sporting activities, my mother can barely mention a single player in any area of sporting let alone support one. Golf ranks at the top of my father’s list and he take part in golfing activities regularly. Swimming is also a favorite and my father enjoys time by the swimming pool a lot, as opposed to my mother. Further, my father supports various football teams assessing their performance and activities closely, something that my mother cannot do. My guests wanted to experience what Auckland has to offer in terms of tourism. They intended to do various things such as visit beaches, malls for shopping, visit some of the volcanic sites, learn more about the cultural heritage of New Zealand, and have a wonderful time touring attractive places. Besides that, the visitors also wanted to experience invigorating walks, experience the exciting nightlife, and have taste the foreign delicacies. Given that background, New Zealand’s fast developing tourism market, which is a mirror of the rapid economic growth, offers the tourism experience that my parents want. The developments in the tourism sector in Auckland are encouraging. Auckland is presenting itself as an appropriate tourism destination giving availing urban-based activities, such as the ones my guests enjoy. In additional to that, the area stands as culturally rich tourism destination. The picturesque islands, the cultural diversities, the extinct volcanoes, the wonderful beaches, and indigenous Maori will offer just what my guest look for in holiday seasons and tourism destinations. Travel Itinerary for my guests visit to Auckland for ten days Date Activity Venue/rating in brackets Details Day 1 Visit Historical site Auckland War Memorial (5) Learn and experience Maori culture Visit exhibitions Day 2 Sports Snow Planet Take part in snow resort Experience snow sport and snow village atmosphere Day 3 Water Activities, massage, and beach events Coromandel Peninsula (3) 10:00 am – 2 hours’ drive 10:30 am – experience natural hot spring spa 1:00 pm – swimming 3:00 pm – Therapeutic and Sports Massage Day 3 Amazing locations Mount Eden (4) 10:50 am – depart via Blue Circle buses to Mount Eden 11:50 am – arrival and touring of the region 2:50 pm – return through the Blue Circle buses Day 4 Heritage cultures Parnell Village (3) 10:00 – tour galleries 12:00 visit cafes 15:00 visit boutique style stores Day 5 Sporting events Westpac Stadium (4) North Harbour Stadium Watch Hertz Sevens leg Football events Day 6 Entertainment Bastion Point Lookout Experience the wonderful Bastion experience DAY 7 Music and Dance Civic Theatre Corner Learn the different music and art themes at the theatre Tour the different areas of the theatre Day 8 International cuisines Merediths Restaurant (4) Take International cuisines Day 9 Shopping activities St Lukes Westfield Sky City (4) Visitation of various stores in St Lukes Westfield Shopping for a variety of things Day 10 Preparations and departure MOTAT – Museum of Transport and Technology (3) Travel Explore the largest museum for transport Inventory Type Sub Type Places Quality Quantity Service Shopping Center St Lukes Westfield Sylvia Park Dressmart Botany Town Center Westfield Albany Westfield Westcity Amenity Attraction Amenity Attraction Amenity Amenity In use In use In use In use In use In use Social Beach and water Coromandel Peninsula Muriwai beach Piha Beach Karekare Beach Kaiteriteri Beach Whale Bay New Chums Mission Bay Ocean Beach Wainui Beach Ninety Nine Mile Beach (TripAdvisor, 2014) Attraction Amenity Amenity Amenity Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Atttraction Attraction Attraction In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use Environment Old volcano Mount Eden Domain Lake Pupuke Mt. Albert Pukekiwiriki Crater Hill Mt Smart Mt Mangare One Tree Hill Three Kings Mt Wellington Rangitoto Te Pou Hawaki Taylor Hill Gloucester Park Saint Heliers Purchas Hill Pukeiti Puhinui Craters Otara Hill Otuataua Orakei basin Tuff Crater Mount Roskill Browns Island (Explprerbus, 2014) Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Attraction Neutral Reserve In use Reserve Reserve Reserve In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use Cultural Heritage villages Parnell Village Clavedon village market Howick Village Auckland Heritage Village (Explprerbus, 2014) Neutral Neutral Attraction Attraction Degraded In use In use In use Service International dishes Merediths restaurant Citylife Auckland Copthorne Hotel Auckland The Langham Rendezvous Grand Hotel Heritage Auckland Hilton Auckland Skycity Auckland Crowne Plaza Auckland Pullman Auckland Quay West Suites Auckland Stamford Plaza Auckland Kiwi International Hotel (TripAdvisor, 2014) Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity Amenity In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use Social Sporting Westpac Stadium Eden Park Mt Smart Stadium Eden Park North Harbour Stadium The Trusts Stadium ASB Stadium Snow Planet (ViewAuckland, 2014) Amenity Attraction Amenity Attraction Attraction Amenity Amenity Amenity Attraction In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use In use Experience Historical site: Auckland War Memorial was a good place to visit considering the rain that fell on Auckland on the first day. It was packed with myriad objects that were related to war for the province. The exhibitions were wonderful leaving the guests with an exhilarated feeling. Sport: Snow planet: Snow Planet came as an option because of the persistent rain on the second day. The location is an indoor resort that is open all through the year offering visitors the excitement of snow sports. Water Activities: Coromandel Peninsula served as both an entertainment destination giving the guests a wonderful opportunity to take part in water activities and historic destination because of its sceneries and buildings. The experience was intermediate, but the visitors had a good experience all the same. Attractions: Mount Eden, a vibrant attraction that combined nature and culture, gave the guests satisfaction. However, Hawke’s Bay could have offered the guests a better experience. Heritage cultures: Parnell Village is an old surviving cultural village that gave the guests a peak of Auckland in history. However, the guests were not highly enthralled by the location because it has not been maintained well, and areas around it have evolved highly leaving a small street of historical experience. Entertainment: Bastion Point Lookout and Civic Theatre Corner were meant to be entertainment points, but the guests only sightsaw and experienced art works. The visitors’ expectation that they would experience music that reflected the origins and culture of New Zealand were not met. Cuisines: Merediths restaurant gave the visitors a good experience in terms the quality of food served, as well as service. Shopping: St Lukes Westfield and Sky city shopping experience was eventful. The guests loved the experience that they had moving from one store to another, and they saw all the things that they expected to see and find. Analysis The guests had an enjoyable time that sure gave them myriad memories to take back home. The ten day excursion was enthralling, and both my father and mother reported the period as an entertaining, relaxing, and educative one. The different points I took them to matched their like and dislikes and they got to enjoy themselves to the maximum. Various places appealed to the guests while proving affordable to them as they are to most middle class tourists. Starting with the shopping experience, my parents got to tour one of the most renowned shopping malls in the area. The shopping mall offered the guests with low prices or rates compared to other shopping areas. The guests took that opportunity to carry out analysis of various products available in the shopping mall. What is more, my parents had the opportunity to try out the technological innovation implemented by the shopping mall which includes an online shop to offer advice and accommodation bookings to visitors intending to shop for some days. The site, Agoda.com, is an excellent choice for more than 3,000,000 travellers who come to tour Auckland. Filled with tourists and mixed cultures, shopping in the town is a good experience. According to Baird, the region’s shopping malls are amazing and match up to the expected standards of such as city (Baird, 2008). Yes, Auckland needs to advance its shopping malls to cater for the ever-increasing rate of tourists. Despite the fact that Auckland’s shopping malls are huge and stock many products for tourists, there is need to develop more malls to support the ever growing urban tourism in the country. Auckland stands as the biggest city in the country followed by Wellington and Christchurch and pumps in a huge percentage of the $3 billion of the tourism revenue. However, the tourism development committee can do more to optimize the profits from the current twelve million tourists (Tian, 2008). Moreover, given the current trend, it is clear that Auckland’s tourism will continue to grow in a dramatic manner, and the development measures in place should ensure that the growth occurs in a fashionable manner such that the city does not lose its attraction. No other place could have given my guests the best beach experience like Auckland did. Blessed with a big coastline and three harbours, the region possesses several bays and amazing beaches. Many of these bays and beaches are known to few people, especially those coming from outside the region. While the city requires proper marketing to improve the popularity of the beaches, the current state offers guests the solitude they need. In specific, my guests had the opportunity to experience the services, sceneries, and ambience at Coromandel Peninsula. This beautiful beach surprised my parents with its hidden depths. We managed to arrive around three hours before the low tide ensuring that my guests had the opportunity to make holes just where the tide usually reaches for relaxation. This served as a natural spa of hot springs that gave the guests fun, at least before the tide arrived, and the waves terminated the whole fun. The guests also experienced the coastal springs, which are full burbling water that is said to have minerals (Kennedy, 2009). The current beaches in Auckland are able to sustain the number of tourists who require beach services. This is because the country has a big coastline. However, the quality of some of the beaches is a matter of concern. Some of the beaches are extremely polluted that it is not safe for tourists to swim. The major sources of pollution are run-offs and sewage requiring the council of Auckland to act on the problem. A current report outlines safe beaches and differentiates them from those that are troubled with pollution problems helping tourists majorly. For instance, the Auckland Council’s report states that Weymouth Beach located south of the city is one of the badly polluted beaches in New Zealand. Such issues might hamper the growing tourism industry regardless of the fact that many tourists regard the beaches in Auckland highly. Therefore, increasing the quality, instead of quality, of the beaches in the city will be advantageous to the tourism industry in a major way. Volcanoes are a commonplace feature in Auckland city, and my guests had a wonderful experience that satisfied their love for historical sceneries and fun activities. The city’s landscape has numerous volcanoes, amounting to 49, which are emphasized by their classification as well as preservation as parks or reserves (Smith & Allen, 2010). My guests relished Maunawahu, Mount Eden, which stands as the city’s highest volcano. We also got to learn that the mountain’s name emanated from George Eden who was Auckland’s first Earl. The tourist attraction presented extensive views from various points, especially from the summit parking area, just two kilometers south of Auckland. In addition to that, the touring experience was livened by the efficient system of transportation. Tour buses that grind up the hills from morning to evening take tourists to the summit car park where they can have a good view of Mount Eden. Given the opportunity, the guests could have experienced even more rewarding views of One Tree Hill, which is five kilometers to the southeast (Harper, Mudd, & Whitfield, 2002). New Zealand’s Auckland city attracts cultural and heritage tourists, again, standing out as satisfactory to my parents. Over the recent past, cultural tourism has been on the rise and so have been studies on the area. Analyzing the quality of the cultural tourism in various locations presents special value. New Zealan’s Hawke’s Bay is one such area that can elicit the cultural and heritage tourism experience. Hawke’s Bay, based on the east coast, attracts a relatively high number of young tourists. Thirty six percent of all the tourists visiting the region are aged from 20 to 35 years. The region is full of heritage buildings preserved for purposes of passing on lessons about the past t younger generations. Tourists often seek a deeper understanding of the regions and their heritage buildings greatly (Richards & Munsters, 2010). Such was the experience that my guests had when they visited Parnell village. Parnell village was a must visit destination for my guests. Its three kilometer stretch in Auckland subsumes some of the best dining experiences and retail shops that specialize in certain areas. The experience that my guests got at the historic town is nothing like they can find anywhere else in the world. The cornerstone of the small town is an area that Les Harvey carefully preserved while developers demolished other areas. In a few words, my parents experienced the magical region of yesteryears and encountered the retailers who offer excellence in antiques, designer fashion, jewellery, art, craft, exquisite shop fronts, and paved courtyards. This environment truly created the ambience of yesteryears making it a perfect destination for cultural and heritage tourists (Chon, 2013). Indeed, the village is a special stop for both locals and international tourists, and I could not have chosen any other place knowing what enthralls my guests. There is no doubt that historical sites such as Parnell village and Auckland War Museum are great, but there is need for improvement, especially on the transportation sector. Currently, plans to improve transport in the Parnell have set plans for a heritage stop. It is specially purposed to cater for tourists visiting Auckland War Museum and Parnell village. Although the station is not intended to be the main station for other commuters, it will surely offer reasonable access to other populations such as university students. Further, other historic scenery sites and museums are showing need for improved transportation systems and other amenities to improve the experience of visiting tourists. For instance, Carlaw Park shows the need of a crossing bridge to facilitate movement across the Stanley St area (Jon, 2011). Regardless of the time of the year, one is bound to get a buzzing event in the city of Auckland. The city’s calendar of events is always full of major sports events, competitions, and cultural festivals. Tourists normally join the city’s passion for sports, food, and music while celebrating many of the events that take place. These events attract a lot of tourists owing to the hospitality the New Zealanders. The Hertz Sevens poses as the biggest and most colorful sporting event in Auckland this year and it has attracted several tourists from various parts. For locals, this is a time to flock the city dressed up in carnival-like costumes and clothes ready for an enthralling experience. My guests could not have come to a rugby loving destination and leave without experiencing the mood around Auckland during one of the major sporting events. Furthermore, the experience was even more appealing to my father as he is already a huge fan of sports. On the flip side, my guests got to enjoy and tour North Harbour Stadium located in New Zealand. This, again, was an exciting experience for my father because of his love for football. My mother also loved to witness an under 20’s women match at the North Harbour. The experience was good for her despite the fact that she does not enjoy football as much as my father does. There is a need to improve facilities to enable Auckland improve its revenue from sport tourism. Over the years, Auckland has proven to be a major destination for sports tourists. However, further improvements in the area will ensure that the destination can cater for the ever growing fan base and interest in tourists. While building infrastructure for sports tourism is desirable, understanding tourist behavior also presents an equal meaning given that this behavior is a vital element for sustainability in the tourism sector. The sector can influence the interests of tourists in general through their collective or even individual behavior. Advancements in the sector, therefore, are important as they bring color, an air of carnival, excitement as well as an atmosphere that is enticing to tourists. In general, Auckland will have to develop its sports stadiums in a bid to advance the status of centers that work as tourists’ destinations. These advancements, in conjunction with ancillary services for tourists such as transport, accommodation, entertainment, and dining will enhance the status of Auckland as a tourist destination (Higham, 2005). New Zealand, over the recent past, has been a great destination for sports tourists. The nation hosted one of the biggest sporting events according to international levels in 2011 when it hosted the Rugby World Cup. At the time, the nation expected more than 80,000 visitors, with Auckland being their major host city. The rising number of visitors has increased the need to improve access for tourists majorly (Buhalis & Darcy, 2012). One would say that the preparations and improvements for accessibility were efficient as the Auckland won an international award for sports tourism. The award, presented in 2012, places Auckland second in the category of sports after London. Auckland tourism and the events development department have also been listed as a finalist in recent award schemes proving the capability of the city to offer tourists the best experience in terms of sporting events (Cunningham, 2012). A visit to MOTAT was informing at the same time exhilarating for my guests. The Museum of Transport and Technology that stands on 40 acres of land is the largest offering tourists and informative journey through most of the technological attainments that have assisted in shaping the country. The museum proudly possesses more than three hundred thousand items, covering a wide array of transport technologies from World War II airplanes, to tram lines, to fire engines. MOTAT also exhibits communication items and old vintage cars that have survived through ages (Smitz, 2005). The experience at this place was a great one and my guests have something to say about it to date. The need to increase the number of museums in Auckland is present, but it is not as urgent as the need to address challenges of remaining relevant and collecting sustainably. Museums in Auckland face major challenges and require improvements just like museums in other areas. The current museums in Auckland have to improve their methods on the collection and their strategy for sustainability. Tourists are slowly changing the expectation of Auckland museums. With the increasing number of tourists, leisure industries are drawing away the attention that was initially accorded to museums. Tourists make their choices according to the perception the value they might get and their potential for enthrallment. Auckland’s museum’s board need to consider policies that will manage collections systematically (QAD, 2008). This will assist the museums set goals, care for current collections, acquire novel items, and make the collections available to the tourists as much as possible. In addition to that, museums and heritage sites need to comprehend the tourist markets. Auckland tourism sector can also benefit from myriad improvements on its domestic market. The domestic market stands as a major source of revenue, as it usually draws the attention of locals as much as it does to the foreign visitors. Domestic tourists act as persuasive referrers for tourists from other countries, especially those that spend time with them while enjoying sceneries and touring New Zealand. Currently, the participation of local tourists in cultural events is waning, and this might affect the rates of international visitors frequenting the area of tourism. One way to improve the participation of New Zealanders in cultural tourism is through developing compelling reasons for people to enjoy the attractions offered by the heritage, arts, and cultural sectors (QAD, 2008). Auckland and New Zealand in general, offers a host of excellent cultural sites and experiences for tourists. Many tourists, once swayed by the stunning landscapes in New Zealand, keep revisiting the country to have another experience of the impressive quantity and quality of cultural experiences present there. Recent research reveals that tourists who take part in cultural, local arts, or heritage tourism are more satisfied than those who do not (QAD, 2008). This implies that New Zealand can increase its revenue from the tourism sector by increasing their experience with cultural tourism. This will require all the involved stakeholders to increase their engagement with suppliers of cultural, arts, and heritage experiences. Working with suppliers will ensure that stakeholders in the tourism sector develop advantageous situations. In addition to that, the tourism sector needs to ensure that suppliers receive increased returns because of their efforts. Conclusion It is evident that tourism is a growing industry in Auckland and New Zealand in general. My guests have something to say about their experience, and most of it is positive. The ten-day excursion involved visitation to cultural sites, entertainment hubs, historical sceneries, and shopping centers. The experience could have never been more enthralling elsewhere than it was in Auckland. However, the situation is not perfect yet, and the tourism sector can adjust a few areas to ensure that Auckland is ready for the growing number of tourists. What is more, local tourists could improve the experience of local tourists calling for strategies that focus on attracting them. There are various things that the tourism board in Auckland can do to ensure that the frequency and number of tourists visiting the city increase. Since the city is becoming a big destination, the transport industry can boost the numbers of visitors by making traveling to the city easier. Introduction of chartered and direct flights to major attraction sites is one way of doing this. Further, the board should ensure that the quality, as well as quantity of amenities, attractions, and associated elements, satisfies tourists. The board can ensure that this is so by supervising and monitoring major tourist zones. Further, auxiliary services such as hotels, shopping malls, and other important facilities should be improved to ensure that tourists have a great experience. Safety is also a key factor in driving tourist numbers high. Tourists will frequent Auckland if they are assured that all beaches, attraction sites, and other tourist zones are safe. Lastly, developing roads and other facilities is essential to tourism as a sector, and Auckland should give this factor high focus. References Baird, E. (2008). A Life Like Mine: A Remarkable True Reflection of a Family’s Inspiring Emigration Story. iUniverse. Buhalis, D., & Darcy, S. (2012). Best Practice in Accessible Tourism. Channel View Publications. Chon, K. S. (2013). Geography and Tourism Marketing. Routledge. Cunningham, B. (2012). International Visitors Drawn by Auckland Tourism’s Sport City sStatus. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/international-visitors-drawn-auckland-tourisms-sport-city-bc Explprerbus. (2014). Auckland Hop On Hop Off Explorer. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.explorerbus.co.nz/ Harper, L., Mudd, T., & Whitfield, P. (2002). New Zealand. Rough Guides. Higham, J. E. S. (2005). Sport Tourism Destinations: Issues, Opportunities and Analysis. Routledge. Jon, C. (2011). Parnell Heritage Stop Is a Go. AKT. Retrieved from http://www.aktnz.co.nz/2011/02/17/parnell-heritage-stop-is-a-go/ Kennedy, S. (2009). Cycling New Zealand. Lonely Planet. QAD. (2008). New Zealand Arts Tourism Strategy to 2015 (p. 40). Auckland. Retrieved from http://www.mch.govt.nz/files/New Zealand Cultural Tourism Strategy.pdf Richards, G., & Munsters, W. (2010). Cultural Tourism Research Methods. CABI. Smith, I., & Allen, S. (2010, January 26). Auckland Volcanic Field Geology. GNS. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/Volcano-Geology-and-Hazards/Auckland-Volcanic-Field-Geology Smitz, P. (2005). Australia and New Zealand on a Shoestring. Lonely Planet. Tian, F. S. (2008). Is Auckland ready for Chinese travellers? Auckland University of Technology. TripAdvisor. (2014). Merediths, Auckland Central: Restaurant Reviews. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g255106-d799091-Reviews-Merediths-Auckland_Central_North_Island.html ViewAuckland. (2014). Rainy Day Ideas in Auckland. ViewAuckland. Retrieved April 8, 2014, from http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/insidersguide/rainy-day-ideas-in-auckland-feature-4312.html Read More