TRENZ 2023: Tourism NZ CEO praises the role of advisors in Kiwi travel recovery

TRENZ 2023: Tourism NZ CEO praises the role of advisors in Kiwi travel recovery

Lots has been revealed so far at TRENZ 2023.

From promising passenger figures at Air New Zealand to the surging role of regenerative tourism, the NZ travel industry has recovered but unfortunately, has hit a bit of a plateau.

The notion of revenge travel has subsided a bit and a problem facing many destinations globally is staying on top of travellers’ minds in order to get travel numbers back to pre-COVID levels. This was a key issue discussed by the Tourism New Zealand CEO René de Monchy at a media conference this morning.

When question time came around, Travel Weekly asked Monchy about how Tourism New Zealand can continue to entice the Aussie travel trade and travel agents to continue sending their clients across the Tasman following this plateau.

Monchy discussing NZ’s recovery at TRENZ (supplied by TRENZ)

“Australia, as I previously said, is obviously our only short-haul market and our largest market in terms of value to New Zealand… when the border reopened it was the first market that we went live in with marketing activity again because it makes up the predominant share of our visited travellers,” Monchy told Travel Weekly.

He went on to illustrate that TRENZ itself was an example of this as there is a larger number of Australian buyers at the event than ever before.

“One of the other things we did last year,” Mochy continued on reconnecting with the Aussie trade, “almost immediately after the border opening, we actually helped coordinate a roadshow into Australia to reconnect with travel trade, as well as activating our consumer activity. And that will continue.

“Our view as we look to the future (is that) travel trade has always been really important for New Zealand – for both Australia and especially for long-haul markets.

“Our expectation is, as we come out of COVID, having that expert help you with your booking will be even more important.

“So we’ll be even more focused on ensuring that we find the right partners and that they have the right information to be able to make a booking to New Zealand.”

In terms of general recovery for New Zealand’s travel market, Monchy revealed that holiday arrivals sit at 59 per cent of pre-COVID levels, while total arrivals are at 71 per cent.


Featured Image: Monchy addressing media at TRENZ (supplied by TRENZ)

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]