One Warkworth – Welcome the tourists

The busy time of year is almost upon us. You know, that time when the sun shines and our roads are busy with holidaymakers and tourists all coming to visit our part of paradise. In the past, I have heard locals moaning about the influx of “jafas” into our town, and it always concerns me that some people see this as a problem rather than the opportunity that it is.

We have had a year from hell, with a lot of local businesses forced to close for quite long periods of time with little or no income coming in, and although things have been busier lately, it still won’t make up for a substantial amount of lost income.

For these businesses, it would be fantastic for them to reap the benefits of a town full of visitors opening their wallets and spending money. I encourage local businesses to openly and actively welcome visitors to Warkworth, encourage your staff to ask where they are from, what are they going to do in town and talk to them about the local attractions – like a cruise on the Jane Gifford, a wander through the museum or a meal in one of the local restaurants.

The longer we can get visitors to stay in the area, the more likely they are to buy, and every dollar they spend helps not just a business but the whole town. Remember, these businesses are often the ones we go to for sponsorship and prizes for our clubs and schools.

If you are a business that perhaps needs a quick clean-up and maybe a few weeds pulled out, then now is the time to do it. The more welcoming your business is, the more foot traffic you will attract. Don’t miss the opportunity to increase the number of customers coming to your premises by waiting for the landlord to do it. The stronger your welcome, the more likely people will enter.

From the first time I visited Warkworth, what stayed with me is how friendly people are, how they are happy to stop and answer questions and how quaint and pretty Warkworth is. We should all be grateful for the wonderful place we live in, but I also believe we all have a responsibility to share this with our visitors and be the best ambassadors for Warkworth we can be. A simple, “Hi, can I help?” goes such a long way to improve people’s experience of a place.

Murray Chapman, One Warkworth Manager
www.onewarkworth.co.nz