ITC Industry News Bulletin #26
In this week’s airline, travel and tourism news, Qantas and American Airlines announce a new daily service between Auckland and LA, accommodation providers enjoy another record-breaking month and more.
TOP STORIES
New American air service brings economic benefits
Qantas and American Airlines have announced a new daily route between Los Angeles and Auckland, with regional New Zealand connections via Jetstar. Chief executive of the Tourism Industry Association Chris Roberts says this new service is yet another step in the right direction towards NZ’s Tourism 2025 goals.
“The US is our third biggest visitor market and they enjoy what we have to offer. Tourism operators around the country will be keen to support this new service with activities and experiences that appeal to North American visitors,” says Mr Roberts.
“It’s fantastic to see airlines responding to the strong demand out of North America to visit New Zealand by increasing the supply.”
The new service is planned to commence in June 2016.
Record tourist numbers boost accommodation coffers
September was a record-breaking month for accommodation providers, with guest nights up 5.2 per cent from the same period in 2014. This marks September 2015 as the best September for occupancy rates since 1996 – the year Statistics New Zealand started collecting data.
ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley told the New Zealand Herald the future looks just as bright.
“We think the outlook for tourism and the supporting sectors for that is very encouraging,” he said.
September also broke another record – the number of overseas arrivals increased by 9 per cent.
IN BRIEF
Popular trio rule on tourists Golden Route
According to data published on Herald Insights, many Chinese tourists in New Zealand follow what TIA chief executive Chris Roberts called ‘the Golden Route’: Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown. Mr Roberts said these three destinations appealed to tourists “who typically have less than a week in New Zealand”. Read more.
The Hobbit films are continuing to attract enthusiastic fans to New Zealand’s shores, data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reveals. Hobbiton General Manager Russell Alexander believes the popularity of the attraction is unlikely to drop anytime soon. “It’s going to grow, the brand is beyond the movies now. The movies were over a year ago and we don’t see it [visitor numbers] dropping off.” Read more.
Australian creatives inspired by Wellington
A new marketing campaign to promote the capital has captured the interest of leading creatives across the Tasman. Developed by Tourism New Zealand, Positively Wellington Tourism and Destination Marlborough, the ‘Inspired by Wellington’ campaign will bring three Australian creatives to Wellington, who will document their experiences and also develop a relevant product. The first is already underway – a unique gelato flavour developed by Nick Palumbo of Australia’s Gelato Messina. Read more.
Rotorua to get unique view of space
Scheduled to open next month, Skyline Rotorua’s new $250,000 stargazing dome is anticipated to offer exceptional views of the night sky. According to telescope specialist, Alex Holloway of Jacobs Photo & Digital, Skyline has invested in the very best equipment as well as good guides. “The best gear with the best local guides is a recipe for success,” Mr Holloway told the Rotorua Daily Post. Read more.
Driving value from the international backpacker market
Tourism New Zealand is hoping to entice international backpackers who travel to Australia to go a step further and make the short journey across the Tasman to our shores. They’ve partnered with Facebook to drive a targeted digital marketing campaign called ‘Play More Every Day’. Read more.
Romance focus for Chinese travellers
Speaking at the China Business Summit in Auckland earlier this week, Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon said the airline was marketing the country as a romantic, family-friendly destination. “We think there are lots of 30 year olds who want to come down to New Zealand have some time out. It’s a very romantic place after all and we’re spending a lot of time on that,” he said. Read more.
[OPINION] Paul Rush: How art can boost Whangarei
NZ Herald columnist Paul Rush believes Whangarei tourism could benefit from going ahead with two new proposed art projects: the Hundertwasser Art Centre and the Wairau Maori Art Gallery. Paul is hopeful Whangarei is making steps towards “a new era” where it can become known as a “cosmopolitan city where fine art and people meet”. Read more.
New Zealand third most generous country
According to the World Giving Index by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), New Zealand is the third most generous country in the world, just behind Myanmar and the US. Read more.
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