New Zealand’s Top Tourist Highlights Recognised

Pictures of this afternoon's event, attended by Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister and CEO Auckland Airport Don Huse, will be available by 6pm on www.arrival.co.nz/awards

Media Release
Embargoed until 4.00 p.m. Wednesday 4 July 2007

New Zealand’s Top Tourist Highlights Recognised

The Warehouse, SKYCITY, and Speights were recognised among New Zealand’s top tourism highlights today [4 July], at the inaugural Arrival Magazine Traveller’s Choice awards, held at the New Zealand Trade Centre in Auckland.

In the Favourite Retailer category the top honour, presented by Rt Hon Helen Clark, Prime Minister, went to The Warehouse, while Montana and Speights were awarded Favourite Wine and Beer respectively. Auckland’s Favourite Attraction/Activity was deemed to be SKYCITY, the Zorb© in Rotorua was named Favourite Attraction/Activity outside of Auckland, and Auckland was named Favourite Region.

The winners were determined by a survey of more than 2000 overseas visitors from 80 countries carried out by Arrival magazine – a magazine that showcases the best of New Zealand to overseas visitors.

Arrival Magazine Publisher Mike Taillie said he found some of the results of the survey quite surprising.

“While the Warehouse is a household name, we wouldn’t have expected travellers to name it as their favourite place to shop in New Zealand,” Mike said.

“We also found that some regions were performing better than some of our major tourist cities. For example, Taupo was rated higher than Wellington.”

Mike said another important finding of the survey was the lack of brand recognition for some of New Zealand’s favourite tourist attractions.

“While many people said their favourite activity was, for example, bungy jumping, or Waitomo Caves, few mentioned brands associated with these activities, meaning that we couldn’t identify which operator was involved.

“More than 50 per cent of overseas visitors have been to New Zealand before so brand recognition is hugely important for tourism operators in order to ensure repeat business and recommendations to other travellers. Mentioning that someone ‘must go whale watching’ as opposed to ‘must go whale watching in Kaikoura,’ makes a critical difference.”

Mike said the important thing about the Traveller’s Choice awards is that they are determined by overseas visitors, and not by the tourism industry itself.

“International visitors spend $8.3 billion annually in New Zealand, so understanding their behaviours and opinions is critical to our economy.

“We hope that these awards will continue to give us essential insight into New Zealand tourism into the future.”

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Favourite Retailer

WINNER:
The Warehouse

FINALISTS:
Farmers
Pak’ n Save
Victoria Park Market
New World

Favourite Wine

WINNER:
Montana

FINALISTS:
Church Road
Oyster Bay
Waitiri Creek
Oyster Bay

Favourite Beer

WINNER:
Speight’s

FINALISTS:
Tui
Lion Red
Steinlager
Monteiths

Favourite Attraction - Auckland

WINNER:
SKYCITY

FINALISTS:
Kelly Tarltons
Auckland Museum

Favourite Attraction – North Island

WINNER:
Zorb Rotorua

FINALISTS:
Te Papa
Te Puia
Waiotapu
Huka Jet

Favourite Attraction - South Island

WINNER:
Whale Watch Kaikoura

FINALIST:
Shotover Jet

Favourite Region

WINNER:
Auckland

FINALISTS
Rotorua
Queenstown
Christchurch
Taupo

ENDS

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