ITC Industry News Bulletin #71
In this week’s airline, travel and tourism news, New Zealand is ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, the Otago Rail Trail continues to attract high numbers, and more.
TOP STORIES
New Zealand ranks as one of the safest countries in the world
A Travel and Tourism Report from the World Economic Forum has just listed New Zealand as the seventh safest country in the world – and a top contender in several other areas as well.
The report is used to create benchmarks in 141 different economies around the world, using 14 different pillars with dozens of indicators. Safety and security is just one of those pillars, and can be used to give travellers an idea of what they can expect from a country.
Finland took the top spot in first place, Australia landed a place as the 13th safest country in the world, and the US trailed behind in 73rd.
New Zealand also managed good scores in ‘international openness’ in which it ranked third, and ‘business environment’ in which it ranked eighth.
Otago sees $17 million in economic benefits thanks to cycle trail
The Otago Central Rail Trail is a popular attraction for Kiwis and visitors alike thanks to its phenomenal views, open-air atmosphere and tourism opportunities. In the past year alone, it has boosted the local economy by as much as $17 million.
Those funds were generated by some 250,000 people – that’s almost 700 people per day on average throughout the year. The report on the benefits estimates that domestic riders spent roughly $7 million while visiting the trail, and that the remaining $10 million comes from international spend.
Much of that spend went to expenses such as local attractions, wining and dining, and accommodation. Thanks to such figures, the cycle trail has been attributed as a factor in new growth and jobs in the Otago tourism sector.
IN BRIEF
Christchurch wins bids for two international conferences
Christchurch has won bids for a large international biology symposium in 2021 and an engineering congress in 2020. Together, the two events will welcome 900 delegates to the city and bring in more tourism dollars. Read more
Travel attractions named as business awards finalists
Several of New Zealand’s tourism attractions have been named as finalists for the ANZ business awards. Delta Strike International and the Haka Tourism Group are included in the best emerging businesses category, while Hobbiton Movie Set Tours was named in the best medium business category. Read more
August guest night figures hit new high
Tourism continues to grow with accommodation providers around New Zealand seeing a 6.4 per cent growth in August compared with the same time last year. This represents as many as 2.45 million guest nights – the highest ever for August. Read more
New Zealand welcomes more Filipino tourists than ever
A surge in Filipino visitors has seen a 25 per cent increase in tourist numbers in the year to August 2016, up from a year prior. All together, there have been 17,680 visitors from the Philippines over the past 12 months. Read more
Country’s first pod hotel on the cards for Christchurch
A Jucy Snooze hotel may well be New Zealand’s first ‘pod’ style accommodation. The city’s airport has built a $9 million premises on which the hotel will open for guests on November 1. Read more
Tourism boosts electronic card spending
Tourist dollars are helping to boost New Zealand’s economy, and are believed to be behind a 1.9 per cent seasonally adjusted rise in August. Accommodation, food and beverage spending all fall into the hospitality sector, which has grown 16 per cent alone up from a year earlier. Read more
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