More Canadian visitors will boost economy

Media Release

More Canadian visitors will boost economy

23 February 2007

Attracting more Canadian visitors to New Zealand will provide a significant boost to our economy, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

The tourism industry welcomes Air New Zealand’s announcement today that it is launching a direct Auckland-Vancouver route, Ms Luhrs says.

“Canada has become an increasingly important source of international visitors to New Zealand. Arrival numbers have grown almost 16 percent since 2002, even without the benefit of a direct air link. So we expect to see a significant increase in the number of Canadian visitors when this new service begins.”

Though Canadians at present account for only two percent of international visitor arrivals, they stay longer and spend more in New Zealand than many other visitors. Last year, Canadian visitors spent an average of 29 days in New Zealand and spent almost $3400 each. In total, they contributed $136 million to New Zealand’s economy, the eighth largest spend from an individual country.

“The new route has the added benefit of freeing up seats on Air New Zealand’s busy routes from San Francisco and Los Angeles, which we hope will allow more visitors to come from the United States,” Ms Luhrs says.

She expects the new route will boost interest from Canadian travel and tourism buyers attending New Zealand’s premier tourism trade show – TRENZ 2007 – in Rotorua, 21-24 May.

Travel and tourism buyers from around the world are coming to TRENZ 2007 to meet and do business with about 400 New Zealand tourism operators during the four day event. The buyers come to purchase accommodation, transport, attractions and activities at wholesale rates,

and include them in holiday brochures and itineraries for forthcoming seasons.

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

For more information about TRENZ 2007, go to www.trenz.co.nz

ENDS

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