A lot of people are screaming that the cruise boat tourists (who apparently add to our tourism revenue) immediately leave for Rotorua.

Now Te Puke has a plan for them. What is the Mount's plan?

Keep watching them leave?

A gondola on top of the Mount would not only keep the cruise boat tourists here, it would bring our own ‘tourists' to the Mount. Papamoa is set to be and is a retirement plan for many older folks, a number of whom cannot manage the arduous walk to enjoy the view.

Why should they miss out?

Our population is heading to be a majority of older folks, we need to cater for them and their spending.

The café at the top could also sell tourist trinkets and local crafts, the food could be sourced locally and jobs made; and the influx of money and jobs would certainly be very welcome, not to mention the flow-on dollars this would bring by keeping/bringing tourists in town.

A ride up to the top; for lunch or a morning tea with an amazing view for our locals, our Kiwi tourists, keeping those cruise ship passengers at the Mount.

If we don't offer the cruise ship passengers something, they'll keep right on taking their tourist dollar right out of the Mount.

S Andrews, Tauranga.