Grow tourist town potential for increased economic growth

With Marlborough's economic growth and business start ups being some of the lowest in the country and our wine industry losing trade year on year as less people drink wine, I think it would be a extremely prudent to create a strategic plan for sustainable tourism growth in Marlborough. I see from the recent infomentrics numbers that the last quarter saw a drop of 8% in accommodation bookings while other regions are seeing good growth. Both Picton and Havelock have been heavily neglected by the council for almost 20 years. Picton is arguably a gold mine in waiting for Marlborough and should be groomed for sustainable tourism to maximise economic growth for the region. Anywhere else in the world, a town like Picton with such magnificent views, landscape / environment and resources would be making hundreds of millions of dollars for its region and its businesses but here in Marlborough, it's in decline. It does not make good business sense to neglect towns like Picton, especially when our region is bottom of the pile in economic growth in NZ. Let's create a plan, build a Marlborough Sounds Heritage and Culture Centre, build waterfront eateries, a jetty reaching out from our foreshore in line with Mable Island for visitors and locals to swin from, let's create a environmental plan too that looks after our environment, our wildlife and marine life. Let's welcome visitors to engage with Picton, stay for a week and enjoy all the wonderful relaxing, energetic and educational things to do in the Marlborough Sounds. 

Because Marlborough's economic growth is way too low, we have an aged population and our wine industry has peaked. It's time for sustainable tourism. Enough of all this decline - It's time to grow!!!!