Tourism NZ sets sights on WA

Tourism NZ sets sights on WA
By admin


Tourism New Zealand will crank up its marketing in Western Australia following the increase in funding handed to it by the government.

An additional $500,000 will be spent in WA from July 1 as it looks to unlock the state’s potential, TNZ Australia country manager Tim Burgess said.

Australia’s overall annual budget will rise from $14 million to $15.5 million as a result of the funding boost.

In addition to the WA cash bonanza, Burgess told Travel Today that $500,000 will be spent on special interest tourism. Cycling will be the focus, with golf, hiking and fishing also on the marketing radar.

The WA focus has been deliberately timed by the tourism agency with Air NZ set to begin direct flights from Perth to Christchurch in December.

Speculation is also mounting that Qantas and Emirates are planning to launch a direct service to NZ from the WA state capital.

Meanwhile, Tourism NZ chief executive Kevin Bowler said he expects an office to open in Jakarta within the next 12 months, with its India presence likely to be expanded in the same timeframe.

TNZ will also open an office in South America – Santiago the likely city – although that is a longer term plan.

“South America is a big place and requires a bit more investigation,” he said. “Flights [to NZ] originate in Santiago but the greater market is probably in Brazil.”

India, Indonesia and South America were all identified by TNZ as target growth markets as it plots how to use its cash windfall.

The tourism body will receive an additional $19 million for each of the next two years, taking its total annual budget to $113m, with an even greater increase heading its way over the following two years, Bowler said.

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