Latest News from Tourism New Zealand

A new-look tourism campaign promoting New Zealand through our gateway regions has just hit Australian television. 

The advertisements – which ask ‘which New Zealand are you this time?’ – are fronted by Robbie Magisiva and Petra Bagust and are an extension of Tourism New Zealand’s successful ‘What’s On’ campaign.

The campaign was launched to the Australian industry on Friday by Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton says the start of the campaign could not have come at a better time, given Friday’s visitor arrivals figures, which showed Australian arrivals hit a new record high in July.

“We want Australians to really start thinking of New Zealand regions and experiences as destinations in their own right, much like New Zealanders think of going to the Gold Coast, or Noosa, or Melbourne for a short break. We want Australians to come and explore different regions of New Zealand, one at a time,” he says.

New Zealand welcomed almost 16,000 additional Australian visitors to New Zealand in July compared with the same month last year. Australian arrivals for the year to July were up almost 6 per cent, or 55,000 visitors. Holiday arrivals for the month increased by almost 40% on the same time last year.

Overall arrivals from all countries were up 0.3 per cent compared with the same month last year.

Read more about the new Australia campaign on our website
Watch the new television commercials online
Read more about July visitor arrrivals

International Visitor Arrivals July 2009:

• Australia:  93,173, up 20.4%
• UK:  11,914, down 9.6%
• US:  13,478, down 5.0%
• Canada:  2,599, down 11.2%
• China:  4,140, down 39.3 %
• South Korea:  5,152, down 37.0%
• Japan:  3,726, down 57.5%

Kiwis have just three more days to invite their friends and family to New Zealand as part of ‘The Great Kiwi Invite’ campaign.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton says there has been an enormous response from New Zealanders to the campaign. "We are delighted to see so many New Zealanders so enthusiastic about promoting their country as a visitor destination."

More than 60,000 Kiwis have already sent personalised invitations to their loved ones offshore, with around 30,000 people accepting the invites and going in the draw to win free flights to New Zealand.

To drive awareness of the campaign before it closes at 9am Thursday 27 August, TVNZ Breakfast presenter Tamati Coffey is touring New Zealand this week presenting live from popular tourist destinations.

His tour will take him from Mt Cook to Cape Reinga, via the Marlborough Sounds and Rotorua, before ending in Auckland. He will announce the winners of the free Air New Zealand flights live from the Auckland Viaduct i-SITE Visitor Centre on Friday morning.

Read the full story online

Have you invited your friends and relatives? Sign up online at www.thegreatkiwiinvite.co.nz

A new trans-Tasman agreement is set to increase the rewards for New Zealand’s tourism industry.

The agreement, announced by Prime Minister John Key last Thursday, will see streamlined processes for border processing of trans-Tasman passengers, making Australian travellers’ experience of arriving in New Zealand faster and easier.

"New Zealand is already the most popular destination for Australian travellers, however there is still much potential," says Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton.

"We have the benefit of being easy to get to as a domestic destination for Australians, but with the added appeal of an international holiday. The new, quicker border procedures will make it easier and more appealing for Australians to come back more than once, to visit different regions and have different experiences."

Read TNZ's media release about the announcement
Read the Prime Minister's media statement

One of New Zealand’s top advocates for the cruise industry has been made a life member of the organisation he helped found.

Captain Craig Harris has been made a Life Member of Cruise New Zealand (CNZ), the organisation that markets New Zealand as a cruise destination to cruise lines.

"Craig has played a massive role in helping the cruise industry to become an increasingly important contributor to tourism in this country," says George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive.

Read the full story online

The first-ever 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games kicked off on Friday, promising to give a huge boost to New Zealand’s profile overseas.

A strong contingent of international media is attending the event and Tourism New Zealand and Destination Queenstown have been working with broadcasters and international media from key tourism markets to ensure maximum exposure for New Zealand.

The biennial 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games runs from 21 to 30th August at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona, Snow Farm, Naseby and Dunedin.

Read the full story online

Have you recently started your own tourism business or do you know someone who has?

This introductory guide to developing and marketing your tourism business is available free from Tourism New Zealand.

Email comms@tnz.govt.nz with your postal address and we will send you a copy.

You can also access helpful tips for marketing your business online at www.tourismnewzealand.com. See 'Industry Resources'.