"Vision is a destination - a fixed point to which we focus all effort. Strategy is a route - an adaptable path to get us to where we want to go." - Simon Sinek
Making 'A World of Difference' every day is the vision of the Central Otago Tourism Strategy. The strategy puts the concept of value at the heart of tourism development in Central Otago and adopts the five central themes of the New Zealand Tourism 2025 Framework as foundations for the region's strategic priorities.
Tourism Central Otago leads the implementation and development of the Central Otago Tourism Strategy 2018 - 2028 with the guidance and support of an external Tourism Advisory Board.
Tourism Advisory Board
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Mark Frood (Chair)
Mark has had an extensive international career with Tourism New Zealand and prior to that, experience with Destination Queenstown, as General Manager Marketing.
His early career was with Greenfields / Landbase Society (Timaru), all of which has given him some serious roots in the Southern region.
Mark’s most recent role was Tourism and International Market Development Manager with Auckland International Airport.
He is now an independent consultant, and has been re-appointed to the Tourism Advisory Board for another year, in the role of Chair.
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Karen Jefferson
Newly appointed, Karen is locally based in Lauder and operates, alongside her husband Jean-Michel, not only a stunning venue popular for special occasions such as weddings, but also an award winning luxury New Zealand tourism company, Ahipara Travel.
Whilst being a motivated and experienced general operational manager, Karen is also currently on a sustainability / regenerative travel journey. With our goal for the Central Otago visitor industry to be carbon neutral by 2027, we look forward to Karen's advocacy in this space.
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Shayne Forrest
Newly appointed, Shayne is originally a local Alexandra lad, now Deputy Chief Executive of Hobbiton having been a key player there since 2012.
Shayne brings over 10 years experience of sales, marketing, product development and operations alongside a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative business strategies.
In 2017 Shayne won the YoungTEC Excellence Award for outstanding efforts and contribution to the development of New Zealand's tourism industry by a YoungTEC member, swiftly followed by winning the Emerging Tourism Leader Award at New Zealand Tourism Awards.
We look forward to his contributions at our Tourism Advisory Board discussions.
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Rudi Bauer
Widely considered as a far-sighted pioneer of the Central Otago wine region and one of the most charismatic producers in the country, we are privileged to have someone as highly regarded and connected as Rudi on the Tourism Advisory Board.
With his knowledge of the local, national and international wine world he adds real value and support, and will continue with the Board for another year.
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Dr Susan Houge Mackenzie
Susan is a lecturer in the Department of Tourism at University of Otago.
She brings to the Board strong practical tourism management experience in the outdoor sector as well as impressive academic credentials with a particular focus on destination management (she is involved with the World Tourism Forum).
Susan has a keen interest in managing the relationship between visitors and host communities - something that is of vital importance to retaining the authenticity of the Central Otago visitor experience. She also has a strong affinity with Central Otago.
Susan has been re-appointed to the Tourism Advisory Board for a further two year term.
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Tim Cadogan - Central Otago Mayor
Tim sits on the Board as the representative from Central Otago District Council. He is a passionate advocate for the region and its residents as he says in his CODC elected member profile ....
"It is easy to love this place, with its big skies, raw hills and wide-open spaces. It's a place where it's easy to feel as one with the world. It is also a place full of great people; from the 6th generation descendants of our earliest settlers to new residents who are bringing their knowledge and experience from all corners of the world."

Central Otago Tourism Strategy
Tourism Central Otago is tasked to deliver the goals and strategic projects identified within the Central Otago Tourism Strategy.

Visitor Persona Research
A researched set of visitor personas on which to base the marketing for Central Otago.

Tourism 2025
A framework to unite New Zealand's tourism industry and ignite strong, aspirational economic growth.

Government Tourism Strategy
The government tourism strategy sets out an active role for government in tourism - to enrich New Zealand through sustainable tourism growth.
Making a World of Difference Every Day

OUR REGIONAL VALUES
Make a Difference
Be at the cutting edge, setting directions and accepting challenges.
Respecting Others
Take the time to listen and understand other people’s opinions and cultural differences.
Embracing Diversity
Be open to new ideas, open to exploring the possibilities and appreciate the strengths and talents each person brings.
Adding Value
Always ask ourselves is there a better way – one that achieves a premium status, quality experience or interaction.
Having Integrity
Seek to be open and honest in all our interactions.
Learning from the past
Choose to learn from past experiences with the future generations in mind.
Making a sustainable difference
Make decisions with the community in mind and in harmony with the natural environment so we can help create the kind of place we can be proud of.
Protecting our rich heritage
Protect and celebrate our rich heritage in landscapes, architecture, flora, fauna and cultural heritage.
Meeting our obligations
Do the right thing by our region and check what legal requirements need to be met before you get started.