Future of rail trail looking bright: survey

Amy Penfold (Tauranga) and Jonathan Stockwell (Christchurch) set off to explore the Otago Central...
Amy Penfold (Tauranga) and Jonathan Stockwell (Christchurch) set off to explore the Otago Central Rail Trail from Clyde in chilly weather this week after graduating from the University of Otago. Photo by Diane Brown.
One of Central Otago's main tourist attractions looks set to continue to grow in popularity over the next five years.

An economic impact and trends survey was performed earlier this year for the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust (OCRT) by assistant Research Fellows at the University of Otago's Centre for Recreation Research, Carla Jellum and Arianne Reis.

Questionnaires were sent to businesses in the areas most affected by the rail trail.

A total of 109 questionnaires were completed and returned. The response rate was 35.5%.

Although concern over the economy was evident, most respondents believed growth driven by the rail trail would continue for five years before reaching a plateau.

"That's reassuring news for the 552 locals currently employed by the 109 businesses that participated in the survey," OCRT chairwoman Daphne Hull said.

February and March were the busiest months for businesses on the rail trail, and June and July were the quietest.

A significant number (22.6%) of businesses closed for four or more months during the year.

According to respondents, the Otago Central Rail Trail has positively impacted on the adjacent communities.

Greater community pride and more services and facilities were ranked as the most important positive impacts.

Rubbish problems, noise and crowding were some of the few negative comments provided by respondents.

The top five suggested improvements for the OCRT were:

More activities to encourage better spread of times to use the trail.
More information panels pointing out areas of interest.
Greater use as an educational resource.
More on-trail toilets and more shade trees.

The suggested improvements were similar to those suggested in a survey three years earlier, which suggested they had not been properly addressed.

Just over 50% of respondents believed there was potential for an increase in visitor numbers during the winter season and that more effort should go towards attracting tourists during this period.

The fact that 77.4% of businesses closed for four weeks over winter was interesting, Mrs Hull said.

If there was enough interest in the Rail Trail as a year-round attraction, 72.6% indicated they would be willing to remain open.

Nearly one third of respondents (29.7%) reported the OCRT was very important in their decision to buy or start their business.

However, a significant number of respondents (19.8%) said the rail trail was not at all important in their decision to start their business.

These results may be attributed to the sample of participants, which included several businesses that are not related to, or greatly affected by, the rail trail such as a big supermarket and petrol station chains.

The majority of respondents (46.2%) attributed 0% to 20% of their turnover to OCRT users.

Although this was a significant share of business turnover, and was an improvement from the 2005 study, when this percentage was even higher (68.4%), it showed the sample was diversified and not all respondents were businesses significantly affected by the rail trail, the report said.

The Otago Central Rail Trail was established in February 2000 through a co-operative effort between the Department of Conservation and the Otago Central Rail Trail Trust.

Located in Central Otago, the 150km recreational rail trail was built upon Central Otago's historic railway foundations.

The rail trail, which is west of Middlemarch, runs along the Taieri River and through the Maniototo Plains; crosses the Rock and Pillar, North Rough, and Raggedy Ridge ranges; and passes through Ida Valley and Poolburn Gorge along the Manuherikia River.

 

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