Zuji Internet Agency Taps Growing Ski Market

17 June 2005

Christchurch Airport And Zuji Internet Agency Tap Growing Ski Market

Christchurch International Airport has turned itself in to a part travel agency, tapping in to the lucrative South Island winter skiing season with New Zealand’s most advanced and comprehensive internet booking agency, Zuji.co.nz

Both Zuji and the airport are unaware of any other airport offering similar travel packages – a deal which has seen over 60,000 visitors to one of three websites www.skidealsnz.com shortly after launch.

Whilst the Australian market has good growth potential, visitors from the larger Europe and US markets are also being targeted.

Glenn Wedlock, marketing and communications manager at Christchurch International Airport Ltd said: We are trailblazing this approach in New Zealand and to a large extent we would be the most pro-active airport in promoting tourism in New Zealand.”

Zuji, the largest internet travel agency in Asia Pacific with over one million members, launched in New Zealand in October last year and is being managed through the publicly listed Gullivers Pacific Travel Group.

Figures indicated about 50,000 Australian skiers journeyed to South Island resorts last year, largely through Christchurch airport.

Zuji NZ general manager David Allen and the airport believed that there was an untapped market in skiers and snowboarders who needed a one stop website with a “call to action” approach for skiers wanting information on fields and conditions as well as offering exciting airfare, hotel and ski package options.

“We are following a theme developed in line with research from Tourism New Zealand around its new interactive traveler market,” explains Wedlock.

“Our airport is the gateway to the South Island. Our role is to offer travelers the best access to the New Zealand holiday product. The website enables us to inform potential travelers the best possible way to travel to the South Island and also providing them the best deals.”

Allen explained that the nature of snow travelers is now almost entirely biased to searching on the net to decide when best to travel.

“The site offers the best of all options, view the conditions, look at the deals, book instantly and go. Because of Zuji’s purchasing power and vast access to content from around the globe, we are able to offer great low fare choices, and instantly bookable hotel and other services and content .

“This is not one of a plethora of sites which just offer an email form to request bookings, this is a partnership that gives total control to the traveler with instant booking capabilities.”

Wedlock says the airport is increasing the level of promotion of air services to Christchurch and tourism product online to the “savvy and aware” interactive traveler.

“We are developing new markets not only in Australia but North America and Europe where it is sometimes difficult to reach customers otherwise.

“With investment in new ski lifts at Mt Hutt, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone as well as great early snow, the South Island is offering an exceptional winter snow holiday experience.”

The ski deals are available through three web sites www.skidealsnz.com,
www.travelinfo.co.nz and www.christchurch-airport.co.nz

ENDS

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