Latest News from Tourism New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand has just launched a new marketing campaign in China that's using social media and celebrity advocates to boost interest in New Zealand holidays.

The campaign features two big names in Chinese entertainment - film-maker Lu Chuan and media personality/celebrity blogger Hung Huang - promoting New Zealand to Chinese travellers.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the campaign will make use of online communities and interactive digital technology to take New Zealand to the right audiences in this fast-growing market.

"Previous advertising activity in China has been successful in building awareness of New Zealand. We now need to build on that by telling a more detailed story of what New Zealand can offer Chinese visitors," says Kevin Bowler.

The campaign is based around New Zealand mini-travelogues fronted by the two celebrities. The travelogues will be shared through a range of online platforms; including blogs, social media sites and through Tourism New Zealand's Chinese-language version of its visitor website, www.newzealand.com/travel/china

Read more and watch videos from the campaign

New Zealand's profile will receive a boost in Japan following visits by two celebrities this month: actress and media personality Beverly Maeda and retired pro-baseball player Masumi Kuwata.

The celebrities came here under Tourism New Zealand's Opinion Leaders programme, accompanied by Japanese TV, print and online media.

Beverly Maeda, a much loved actress and the face of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido, was on her third visit to New Zealand. Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager Japan, Jason Hill, says she is an ideal ambassador for New Zealand among Japan's baby-boomers and is now gaining a recognised association with New Zealand.

New Zealand has also scooped a place as one of three countries currently being show-cased as part of a project by the Japan National Museum of Science.

Find out more on our website

Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand have just launched another round of the 'New Zealand Big Shout' campaign in Australia.

Air New Zealand is giving away two free New Zealand domestic flights with every return trans-Tasman flight purchased in Australia during the promotion.

The campaign will run from 11 to 25 April for travel between 25 April and 30 June; and will give Australian travellers flight options to 26 domestic destinations from six Australian international gateways.

Tourism New Zealand is working with Air New Zealand to promote the campaign, as well as working with New Zealand and Australian travel sellers and Regional Tourism Organisations to ensure there are great 'on the ground' deals to back up the flight offer.

Read more and watch the 'Big Shout' television commercial on our website

Check out 'The Big Shout' on www.newzealand.com

Tourism New Zealand's trade familiarisation (famil) season is well underway, with high-end product buyers and frontline retail agents from Korea, Japan, the US, China, Europe and India scheduled to visit New Zealand over the next three months.

Six product managers from Australia spent five days in New Zealand at the end of March, kicking off the busy season for our famil programme. The group's itinerary was designed to highlight short-break holiday experiences.

Product managers involved with the famil said they appreciated the opportunity to experience a wide range of products. The group visited Christchurch, Tekapo, Aoraki/Mt Cook and Queenstown.

Read more on our website

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler and members of the executive team will be on the road in late April/early May, updating the tourism industry on our markets and campaign work.

Presentations are being co-ordinated in conjunction with regional tourism organisations in Auckland (22 April), Rotorua (27 April), Wellington (28 April), Queenstown (29 April), Dunedin (3 May) and Christchurch (4 May).

See our website for further details and to RSVP

• Registrations are still open for Kiwi Link Asia 2010 (13 - 15 October, Singapore). This event is an opportunity to meet and network with key Aisan travel sellers from across China, Korea and South East Asia. Find out more and register online
   
• The New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference 2010 is coming up on 13 May. Presentors will include Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key, and Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler, as well as top international and local speakers from within the tourism industry. Find out more and register at www.nzhotelconference.com
   
• Our 10 Years Young website, which celebrates last year's 10th anniversary of the '100% Pure New Zealand' marketing campaign, has just been named an Honoree in the 14th Annual Webby Awards (the international Oscars of web design). View a full list of Honorees
   
• Tourism New Zealand has also achieved a Qualmark Enviro Silver award, recognising our ongoing efforts to show leadership in kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and reduce our organisation's environmental impacts. Find out about what we're doing to reduce our impacts, or read more about Qualmark

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