New Zealand’s new way to promote tourism

India Outbound

New programme for travel sellers have been launched in India

New Zealand tourism launches a new programme in India to promote tourism.

A new and improvised version of the 100 pc Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme was launched in New Delhi recently to showcase New Zealand as a potential tourist destination among the travel providers. The programme gave travel sellers a chance to win one a four days holiday to New Zealand.

Talking about India’s role in New Zealand’s tourism industry, Steven Dixon, Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Manager said, “As India is a priority market for us, it is important for us to constantly educate our Indian trade partners with product knowledge and new developments taking place in New Zealand. The 100 pc Pure New Zealand Specialist Programme has evolved significantly over time. We are confident the improved programme will meet the needs of industry and are excited to be launching.”

India is New Zealand’s 11th largest international tourism market. New Zealand has witnessed 57, 776 arrivals from India in between September 2016 to September 2017; there has been a rise of 17.2 pc in arrivals in one year.

This new program has a three-tier structure named as Gold, Silver and Bronze and provides an opportunity to the stakeholders to list their offerings on the New Zealand Tourism’s official website. In order to get priority listing, participants will have to earn Gold specialist status for which they are expected to complete 10 training modules and meet several criteria to earn the status.

Dixon further spoke about the new airline partner and the incentives that are being taken to promote New Zealand among the travel sellers, he said, “To celebrate the launch our airline partner, Air New Zealand which has supported us by sponsoring four return economy tickets from India – New Zealand. Travel sellers have a chance to win these flights by participating in the New Zealand Specialist Programme.”

International tourism plays a major role in New Zealand’s economy. This year it contributed 17.4 percent to the country’s GDP, pumping over USD 14.5 billion into the economy. Currently, around 188,136 people are directly employed in the tourism industry which is 7.5 pc of the total number of people employed in New Zealand.

Mischa Mannix-Opie, Area Manager South and South East Asia, Air New Zealand said, “India is one of Air New Zealand’s growing emerging markets and so we are delighted to be supporting Tourism New Zealand’s New Zealand Specialist Programme to grow Indian travel agents’ knowledge of New Zealand, helping them sell more New Zealand holidays to their customers.  Through our alliance and codeshare services with Singapore Airlines, we connect passengers from 11 Indian cities to Singapore, where they can access three non-stop flights a day to New Zealand.  We’re thrilled to be bringing a seamless journey to Indian visitors and we look forward to helping them explore the unparalleled beauty of New Zealand.”

Last year, in order to improve the bilateral relations between the two countries, Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key visited India in October for high-level business and education delegation. Prime minister, who is also the tourism minister of the country, received a warm Indian welcome from Tourism New Zealand’s brand ambassador, actor Sidharth Malhotra in New Delhi.