Starting point

Creative Tourism New Zealand has been set up to promote a range of interactive workshops sampling the best New Zealand art and culture has to offer. Grown into a nationwide organization, CTNZ started in 2003 in the Nelson region with the help of the Nelson Bays Arts Marketing.

The workshop categories under which CTNZ promotes its tutors are reflective of traditional New Zealand values: Art, Maori Culture, Taste and Nature. The workshops are fun, informal and hands-on. The participants will enjoy spending time with the tutors, either at their homes or work places, while picking up a new skill and creating their own handcrafted souvenir. Many of the workshops are family friendly.

Concept

Creative tourism has existed since tourism began, but has only recently been given its own name. Its originators are Greg Richards and Crispin Raymond, who have defined ‘creative tourism’ as “learning a skill on holiday that is part of the culture of the country or community being visited. Creative tourists develop their creative potential, and get closer to local people, through informal participation in interactive workshops and learning experiences that draw on the culture of their holiday destinations".

Values

We believe that Creative Tourism is a more sustainable form of tourism that can benefit the communities in which it is based, provide a new income source for tutors and inspire visitors. As tutors interact on a genuine and personal basis with workshop participants, a true cross-cultural understanding can take place.

Developments

The concept of ‘creative tourism’ is continuing to develop. In 2006, the “Creative Cities Network” endorsed by UNESCO, agreed on the following working definition of creative tourism: “Creative Tourism is travel directed towards an engaged and authentic experience, with participative learning in the arts, heritage, or special character of a place. It provides a connection with those who reside in this place and create this living culture.” (See official website for more information: Creative Cities Network - UNESCO Culture Sector)

And more recently, the book: “Tourism, Creativity and Development” (2007) edited by Greg Richards and Julie Wilson "[…] analyses the impact and effectiveness of creative strategies in tourism development and charts the emergence of 'creative tourism’, […] involving active participation by tourists in creative activities, skill development and/or creative challenges." Many tourists, they argue, now seem to want to become part of the local community and have direct contact with the everyday life of others. This lies at the very heart of what Creative Tourism New Zealand tries to promote.

In September 2008, the “Creative Cities Network” has been hosting a major conference on Creative Tourism to discuss and define creative tourism, showing examples of success and best practices. CTNZ has been invited to join the conference and presented the New Zealand experience to the conference (see Official Website of Santa Fe Arts and Culture for more information). The main points studied in the conference are reported in a book called: "CREATIVE TOURISM, A GLOBAL CONVERSATION How to Provide Unique Creative Experiences for Travelers Worldwide". The book is available through Sunstone Press

Our vision for the future is to develop the concept of creative tourism as well as the network of workshops on offer while keeping true to our values of quality, authenticity, informality and fun.

If you are interested in joining us as a workshop Tutor click here for more info.

Blogs and groups

A facebook group has been created to invite discussions about Creative Travel in New Zealand. If you are interested, please join the group: Creative Travel New Zealand on facebook or ask for an invitation to join by e-mailing: denise@creativetourism.co.nz.

Comments and ideas are also invited on this blog: Creative Tourism New Zealand: Explore New Zealand creatively!

The people

Crispin Raymond
Founder, Creative Tourism New Zealand
Originator, Creative Tourism concept.
Contact: crispin@creativetourism.co.nz

Crispin migrated to New Zealand in 2001 and lives in the Nelson-Tasman region, attracted by its mix of creative energy and natural beauty. Previously based in the UK, he worked in the arts for 25 years, firstly as Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal in Bath and subsequently as the founder of a specialist management consultancy to help arts and charitable organisations with policy, management, building and funding issues.

Greg Richards
Originator, Creative Tourism concept.
Contact: greg@tram-research.com

Greg is a physical geographer who moved into teaching tourism in the 1980s. While Director of the Centre for Leisure and Tourism Studies at the University of North London, he founded the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) which inititated the EU funded European Cultural Tourism Survey in 1991. This research continues to develop new insights into the motivations and behaivour of visitors to cultural attractions. It was during discussions with Crispin at an ATLAS Winter University course in Portugal in 2000 that the emergence of the Creative Tourism phenomenon was first identified. Greg has written and edited many books and articles on cultural tourism and is leading the academic development of the creative tourism concept.

Denise Raymond
Manager, Creative Tourism New Zealand
Contact: denise@creativetourism.co.nz

Denise migrated to New Zealand with Crispin in 2001. Having chosen to live on a wonderful property in the hills near Motueka, most of their energy is spent on the land caring for the trees and propagating native plants. Denise has always been enthusiastic about the concept of creative tourism and has taken the role of manager in October 2005. Before that she had been working mainly as a translator and a French teacher.

Ali Boswijk
Chairman (non-executive), Creative Tourism New Zealand
Contact: boswijk@xtra.co.nz

During her previous role as CEO of Nelson Bays Arts Marketing, Ali was the first to recognise the potential for Creative Tourism in Nelson-Tasman and New Zealand. Ali brings with her extensive experience of both the local and national arts sector.

Sarah Moulder
Director, Creative Tourism New Zealand
Contact: sarah@coppermine.co.nz

Sarah's background is in the tourism and outdoor industries with experience as Australasian Marketing Manager of Kathmandu outdoor clothing company and Marketing Manager of the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand. Sarah has recently moved to Nelson to enjoy the sunshine, outdoors and extensive range of creative experiences on offer in the region.

Claude Malet

Computer Engineer and outdoors enthusiast. Used to spend summers tramping in the various South Island National and Forest Parks.

Please report Website errors. Comments welcome...