ITC Industry News Bulletin #50
In this week’s tourism news, New Zealand wins a top award for adventure travel, TRENZ 2016 kicks off, and more.
TOP STORIES
New Zealand wins Best International Destination for Adventure award
Each year, the Lonely Planet Magazine India Travel Awards recognise the best of the best for international travel. This year – and for the second year in a row – New Zealand has taken the top spot for Best International Destination for Adventure.
The award was announced at an event in Mumbai on May 9, where Australia and South Africa were named as runners up to the award.
Steven Dixon, regional manager South and South East Asia for Tourism New Zealand, explains what the award meant for the country’s travel industry.
“As a key market for Tourism New Zealand, the award is a positive endorsement from Indian travellers – which supports our work to drive interest and awareness with those considering booking a trip to experience it for themselves.”
TRENZ 2016 kicks off in Rotorua
New Zealand’s tourism industry has spent months counting down to TRENZ 2016, the premier travel event for the country, which has finally kicked off in Rotorua. There are more than 1,000 visiting delegates from all over the world, who will each spend four days in the city meeting with 300 of the country’s top tourism operators.
Chris Roberts, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand’s chief executive, said that the delegates in Rotorua were the “most influential” when it comes to bringing new visitors to the country.
“They come to TRENZ to purchase accommodation, transport and activities at wholesale rates to include in brochures, websites and itineraries for the coming international holiday seasons.”
IN BRIEF
Venture Southland launches campaign to boost tourism
Venture Southland has released an ‘On Your Doorstep’ campaign, which encourages locals to get out and see more of their own backyard. The purpose of the campaign is to support business owners and tourism operators in the area throughout the year. Read more
New Zealand in need of new hotels
There have been no new hotels built in Wellington in more than six years, with similar figures throughout New Zealand. As traveller numbers continue to rise, the country will soon need to build new accommodation options to meet the demand. Read more
Ox Burn Gorge zipline undergoes testing
New Zealand’s newest zipline has reached the next stage of testing. The experience, set up in Ox Burn Gorge near Glenorchy, feature eight lines that cross a canyon and include incredible views of the surrounding area. Owner Chris Russell will soon be the first human to test the attraction, which is due to open by Christmas. Read more
World’s third largest cruise ship to visit Dunedin
The Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas is the world’s third largest cruise ship, and when it pulls in to port in Dunedin in December, will be the biggest ship to ever visit New Zealand. The 169,000-tonne ship is expected to bring in roughly $500,000 to the local economy every day that it’s in port. Read more
Qatar Airways recently made headlines by announcing a flight service between Doha and Auckland, a trip that will take the title as the world’s longest commercial flight. Initially, the first flight was planned for December 3, but has now been pushed back to February 1. Read more
Posted in News, Travel and Tourism News | Tagged Adventure Tourism, Queenstown, TRENZ 2016 | Leave a reply