Tourism Conference, August 24-25, Taupo

Media Release

Tuesday 24 August

Tourism Conference, August 24-25, Taupo

Over 500 delegates from large and small tourism companies around the country are gathered in Taupo for the industry’s annual forum.

This year the Tourism Industry Association (TIANZ) and major partners including Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand are welcoming the attendance of two esteemed keynote speakers from New York and Spain.

Thomas Wallace is Editor in Chief at Conde Nast, the world’s most prestigious international travel magazine. Every year Conde Nast readers enjoy coverage of the hottest tourism properties and locations in the world and New Zealand is proudly listed among them. Thomas Wallace will speak about ‘What Matters Now? The Affluent American Traveler and New Zealand.’ This will be Mr Wallace’s first visit to New Zealand, and the company has promoted its visit to over 80, 000 travel media representatives around the world.

Dr Dawid de Villiers is Deputy Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and will speak on Maintaining the Difference in a Global Perspective.

The WTO is based in Spain and is vested by the United Nations with a central and decisive role in ‘promoting the development of responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism, with the aim of contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity, and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms’.

In 2003 WTO membership reached 141 countries, seven territories and some 350 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen Clark will open the tourism conference. On the final night of the conference (Wednesday) the industry will celebrate the country’s leading tourism companies at the annual New Zealand Tourism Awards.

While in Taupo tourism conference delegates will be treated to the best of Taupo’s fresh hospitality and a range of gifts from companies celebrating the conference theme: Tourism - Proudly Made In New Zealand.

Ends.

Tourism - Proudly Made in New Zealand

The Tourism Industry Association represents 3500 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry.

Members include airlines, airport companies, and regional tourism organisations, rental car, coach and taxi companies, inbound tour operators, accommodation providers, tourism attractions, researchers, training organisations and tourism services providers.

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export earner – accounting for 17.8% of this country’s export earnings in 2003.

The Tourism Industry Association organises the New Zealand Tourism Conference, TRENZ and the New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Go to www.tianz.org.nz Integrating communities and business, maintaining New Zealand’s edge in the global tourism market, and building on innovative ideas are key themes up for discussion at the New Zealand Tourism Conference this week.

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