Thank you so much for your comment Eliza.
This is exactly what we are trying to do.
I hope you will be able to do many more workshops. If you can tell your friends about it, that would help promote our organisation.
So glad you had such a memorable experience, Jessica. I do hope you will be telling your friends about it. Have you been able to take part in other similar experiences during your travels?
In all my travels that was the only thing I did quite like that, not encountered anything like it. I did 'cultural' activities but they were always with a group of tourists and so you never really had that local, personal touch that was particularly notable in the workshop I did, especially as we were invited into the artist's home.
I would like to express my support for creative tourism. I have taken several workshops and I think they offer a great way to get to know how people live in New Zealand. Of course, you get to learn about your host's skill, but you also have the opportunity to spend time with them and chat with them about their life. To me, this is what makes it a really memorable and rewarding experience.
Thank you again, Dana, for your interest in creative tourism.
In response to your questions and suggestions:
- We are a very small company and don't even have a single paid staff at the moment. Friends and volunteers give us help now and then. But as we believe in the concept, we keep going.
- The number of visitors taking part in the workshops is also vey small: maybe 200 a year but we are hoping that when the concept finally gets established, this will increase Also the word of mouth should help as participants have a great experience and talk or write about it.
- It is interesting that you are thinking of a festival as this is also an idea that came out of the International Conference on Creative Tourism in Santa Fe in September. It is something that is at the back of our mind.
Please don't hesitate to come back to us with more questions or suggestions as this is always stimulating.
Hi, Thank you for your interest in the creative tourism idea and sorry for the delay of this reply.
The social impact of creative tourism is not huge at this stage as we are such a limited entreprise. But the potential is big; as tutors can show and teach their traditional craft, it allows them to value these skills. Also the fact that they are part of a creative tourism network means that they can meet and talk and see how to expand the workshops. The contact with visitors is also an important way of exchanging ideas and promoting their art.
When the concept gets established, it should bring a good income to the tutors.
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I did a fused glass workshop with Creative Tourism when I was in NZ and loved it! Not only was it a fun activity out of the rain but it was lovely to be invited into a local person's home and get to know them. I find meeting and talking to locals the best way to really get a feel for a new place. This is far better than just visiting the 'must see' sights and ticking them off the list. And as an added bonus I left with a lot of instant birthday presents for friends and family!
Could you please tell us how many people are employed through your work? Also, how many visitors do you have per month? Per year?
Have you thought of putting together a bit festival to pull together and highlight all of the local artists? Perhaps you could partner with the local tourism bureau to promote an artistic/tourism event.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you.
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers
The concept of Creative Tourism New Zealand responds to the overwhelming feedback from internatinal visitors that the visitor experiences they find most valuable are ones where they engage in a genuine and memorably way with New Zealanders.
Because the tutors offering experiences through Creative Tourism New Zealand are primariy artists and craftspeople as opposed to tourism operators, the experience they offer is not only culturally educational, but is genuine and intimate.
This is what life-changing experiences are made of.
As a 'creative traveller' in New Zealand, I have experienced first-hand what it means to practice creative tourism. It is a unique concept and an activity that easily creates enthusiasm by providing a meaningful, in-depth cultural experience. Besides, the result -a unique token or gift created from your very own hands- becomes the perfect ambassador for a country's skill set when traveler move on to their home destinations and share their experience with others.
Personally, I think creative tourism is a concept that will eventually spread across the entire world. More recently, I have been invited to travel to Spain to help put into place an initiative whereby young people experience the culture through hands-on interaction with Spanish local people.It is still in its early stage, but might exactly be what keen Spanish-learners are looking for: less of a classroom atmosphere, more of an informal interaction style holiday. In Austria, creative tourism could help raise the profile of single destinations and their unique handicrafts and cultural/ historic background, by providing a new platform that promotes exactly these offers for travelers.
New Zealand, in turn, is a young country and travelers are now looking for what creative tourism can offer them: meaningful interaction, long-lasting memories. I sincerely hope that the country's tourism marketing will include creative, interactive experiences in their promotion to foreign travelers. A lot of efforts are needed to achieve this goal, but I am confident that with Creative Tourism New Zealand already having started out so early and continuing to go ahead, there is a bright future for this kind of market in New Zealand.
On July 1, 2009 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. If possible, please take the time to respond to some of the provocative questions and issues that were raised by the judges. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team.
“I would to like to know more about the social impact of this project and is there a demand for this type of program? This would be a very unique project for a location like New Zealand. Is there a way that this project could be brought down to a simplistic model so that it could be replicated worldwide and still have an innovative impact?”
“I like the contrast with the New Zealand adventure tourism industry which lacks sustainability and real engagement. This project looks well placed to grow sustainably as it understands marketing of concept as long as it can find good local partners. There is a nice engagement with the local community, learning about arts, food, wine, and crafts in particular. It's a really interactive way of learning another culture. I like this idea very much.”
- Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” Judges: National Geographic Society, United Nations Foundation, Tribe Wanted, The Green Belt Movement, Lonely Planet, Southwest Forestry University.
Thanks for your question about taking part in a workshop.Just choose a workshop on www.creativetourism.co.nz and write directly to the tutor. The prices start at 55 NZD.
Hope you will enjoy a rewarding experience.
Comments
Thank you so much for your comment Eliza.
This is exactly what we are trying to do.
I hope you will be able to do many more workshops. If you can tell your friends about it, that would help promote our organisation.
----------
denise
So glad you had such a memorable experience, Jessica. I do hope you will be telling your friends about it. Have you been able to take part in other similar experiences during your travels?
----------
denise
In all my travels that was the only thing I did quite like that, not encountered anything like it. I did 'cultural' activities but they were always with a group of tourists and so you never really had that local, personal touch that was particularly notable in the workshop I did, especially as we were invited into the artist's home.
I would like to express my support for creative tourism. I have taken several workshops and I think they offer a great way to get to know how people live in New Zealand. Of course, you get to learn about your host's skill, but you also have the opportunity to spend time with them and chat with them about their life. To me, this is what makes it a really memorable and rewarding experience.
Thanks Dana for your questions and suggestions. I am a bit busy this weekend but will get back to you on Monday.
Have a good week end,
Denise (Tawhai)
----------
denise
I think it is great what you are doing and the volunteers. I myself am thinking of taking part in experience.
Thank you again, Dana, for your interest in creative tourism.
In response to your questions and suggestions:
- We are a very small company and don't even have a single paid staff at the moment. Friends and volunteers give us help now and then. But as we believe in the concept, we keep going.
- The number of visitors taking part in the workshops is also vey small: maybe 200 a year but we are hoping that when the concept finally gets established, this will increase Also the word of mouth should help as participants have a great experience and talk or write about it.
- It is interesting that you are thinking of a festival as this is also an idea that came out of the International Conference on Creative Tourism in Santa Fe in September. It is something that is at the back of our mind.
Please don't hesitate to come back to us with more questions or suggestions as this is always stimulating.
Denise
----------
denise
Hi, Thank you for your interest in the creative tourism idea and sorry for the delay of this reply.
The social impact of creative tourism is not huge at this stage as we are such a limited entreprise. But the potential is big; as tutors can show and teach their traditional craft, it allows them to value these skills. Also the fact that they are part of a creative tourism network means that they can meet and talk and see how to expand the workshops. The contact with visitors is also an important way of exchanging ideas and promoting their art.
When the concept gets established, it should bring a good income to the tutors.
----------
----------
denise
I did a fused glass workshop with Creative Tourism when I was in NZ and loved it! Not only was it a fun activity out of the rain but it was lovely to be invited into a local person's home and get to know them. I find meeting and talking to locals the best way to really get a feel for a new place. This is far better than just visiting the 'must see' sights and ticking them off the list. And as an added bonus I left with a lot of instant birthday presents for friends and family!
Hello Mrs. Raymond,
Could you please tell us how many people are employed through your work? Also, how many visitors do you have per month? Per year?
Have you thought of putting together a bit festival to pull together and highlight all of the local artists? Perhaps you could partner with the local tourism bureau to promote an artistic/tourism event.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you.
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers
The concept of Creative Tourism New Zealand responds to the overwhelming feedback from internatinal visitors that the visitor experiences they find most valuable are ones where they engage in a genuine and memorably way with New Zealanders.
Because the tutors offering experiences through Creative Tourism New Zealand are primariy artists and craftspeople as opposed to tourism operators, the experience they offer is not only culturally educational, but is genuine and intimate.
This is what life-changing experiences are made of.
As a 'creative traveller' in New Zealand, I have experienced first-hand what it means to practice creative tourism. It is a unique concept and an activity that easily creates enthusiasm by providing a meaningful, in-depth cultural experience. Besides, the result -a unique token or gift created from your very own hands- becomes the perfect ambassador for a country's skill set when traveler move on to their home destinations and share their experience with others.
Personally, I think creative tourism is a concept that will eventually spread across the entire world. More recently, I have been invited to travel to Spain to help put into place an initiative whereby young people experience the culture through hands-on interaction with Spanish local people.It is still in its early stage, but might exactly be what keen Spanish-learners are looking for: less of a classroom atmosphere, more of an informal interaction style holiday. In Austria, creative tourism could help raise the profile of single destinations and their unique handicrafts and cultural/ historic background, by providing a new platform that promotes exactly these offers for travelers.
New Zealand, in turn, is a young country and travelers are now looking for what creative tourism can offer them: meaningful interaction, long-lasting memories. I sincerely hope that the country's tourism marketing will include creative, interactive experiences in their promotion to foreign travelers. A lot of efforts are needed to achieve this goal, but I am confident that with Creative Tourism New Zealand already having started out so early and continuing to go ahead, there is a bright future for this kind of market in New Zealand.
On July 1, 2009 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. If possible, please take the time to respond to some of the provocative questions and issues that were raised by the judges. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team.
“I would to like to know more about the social impact of this project and is there a demand for this type of program? This would be a very unique project for a location like New Zealand. Is there a way that this project could be brought down to a simplistic model so that it could be replicated worldwide and still have an innovative impact?”
“I like the contrast with the New Zealand adventure tourism industry which lacks sustainability and real engagement. This project looks well placed to grow sustainably as it understands marketing of concept as long as it can find good local partners. There is a nice engagement with the local community, learning about arts, food, wine, and crafts in particular. It's a really interactive way of learning another culture. I like this idea very much.”
- Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” Judges: National Geographic Society, United Nations Foundation, Tribe Wanted, The Green Belt Movement, Lonely Planet, Southwest Forestry University.
I have been away for a while and will be replying to yopur challenging comments on my return.
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denise
----------
denise
Thanks for your question about taking part in a workshop.Just choose a workshop on www.creativetourism.co.nz and write directly to the tutor. The prices start at 55 NZD.
Hope you will enjoy a rewarding experience.
----------
denise
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