Aviation Industry News
More air links vital to NZ tourism
Monday, 31, May 2010
Tourism industry bosses are eyeing up extra airline services to stimulate a rebound in global visitors shaken by a volatile economic climate.The Government has announced an extra $30 million for Tourism New Zealand's marketing budget, now nearly $100m – the most TNZ has ever had to market our so-called "100% Pure" destination.Not so long ago tourism was claimed as the top export performer for the country, but earnings of $9.3 billion in the year to March 2009 put it behind dairy with $9.9b.
With a new chief executive, Kevin Bowler, TNZ needs to perform each year to keep the Government top-up of what has been a funding base of $69m. Given the huge uncertainties that remain in economically constrained markets in Europe, TNZ and smaller regional tourism operators like Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism are devising a new gameplan. Target markets are Australia, the US, China and Germanic Europe.
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