Applications open for $2 billion tourism event

Applications open to attend $2 billion tourism event

3 November 2006

More than 2.61 million international visitors are forecast to arrive in New Zealand in 2008 – and they’ll all want accommodation, transport and memorable things to do.

New Zealand tourism businesses catering to those visitors can now apply to exhibit their offerings at TRENZ 2007, New Zealand’s largest annual international tourism business event. Applications are open until 21 November.
Around 400 selected New Zealand exhibitors will showcase their visitor products to a similar number of international travel and tourism buyers who come to purchase accommodation, transport, attractions and activities at wholesale rates, and include them in holiday brochures and itineraries for forthcoming seasons.

The Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) estimates that business generated by TRENZ is worth about $2 billion to the economy each year, out of total annual foreign exchange earnings by tourism of $8.1 billion.
In 2007, TRENZ is being held for the first time in New Zealand’s original visitor destination, Rotorua. It will take place at the brand new Energy Events Centre, 21-24 May.

In another first, it will be preceded on 19-20 May by an exclusive showcase of luxury travel experiences, PURE LUXURY New Zealand 2007, at Treetops Lodge & Estate near Rotorua. This event is specifically targeted at attracting international buyers who specialise in looking after discerning and high-spending travellers.

TRENZ is managed by TIA in partnership with Tourism New Zealand, and with support from Air New Zealand and Qantas.

TIA Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says PURE LUXURY New Zealand 2007 is only one of a number of enhancements planned for TRENZ 2007, following extensive research carried out among those who attended TRENZ 2006.

“The research showed that Buyers’ primary reason for attending TRENZ was to find out about new products. But too many felt the New Zealand market was not changing fast enough to warrant them attending every year,” Ms Luhrs says.

“We plan to better showcase new product and developments, to ensure TRENZ is a must-attend event for international buyers - and that tourism keeps making a major contribution to the growth of New Zealand’s economy.”
Don Gunn, General Manager, Destination Rotorua Tourism Marketing, expects TRENZ 2007 to boost Rotorua’s tourism industry.

“Both Buyers and Exhibitors will have the chance to experience first-hand what our region is all about. It will hopefully give them a new perspective on our iconic tourism destination. They will be exposed to our landscapes, our people, our culture, our products and the depth of experiences Rotorua has to offer. It will be an opportunity to experience Manaakitanga (a deep-rooted concept in Maori culture implying guardianship over our land, treasures, people and visitors) and all that our region has to offer.”
For more information about TRENZ 2007, go to www.trenz.co.nz

Key statistics about tourism:
- Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
- New Zealand tourism arrivals have doubled in size since 1994 to 2.38 million
- Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years
- Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $8.1 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2004. That is 18.7% of exports
- Domestic tourism contributes $9.4 billion to the economy each year

ENDS

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