International travel Buyers flock to Southern Lakes

International travel Buyers flock to Southern Lakes

More than 280 influential international travel Buyers from New Zealand’s most important visitor markets will descend on Queenstown in May for TRENZ 2011, exceeding targets, says Tourism Industry Association (TIA) Chief Executive Tim Cossar.

“That’s a fantastic result, given the current international environment, including tough economic conditions in some major markets, the Japan disaster and rising fuel prices.”

TRENZ is the New Zealand tourism industry’s most important annual business event, bringing targeted international travel Buyers from around the world to New Zealand to meet face to face and generate new business with the country’s leading tourism operators.

In total, Mr Cossar says about 1200 Buyers, Exhibitors, domestic and international media, and industry and political leaders, including Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key, will attend the four day event, 22-25 May.

International Buyers flying to New Zealand for TRENZ 2011 include more than 40 from China, one of New Zealand’s fast growing visitor markets, important in terms of numbers and expenditure per visitor, says Mr Cossar.

“We have more than 20 Buyers coming from the USA. This bodes well for the recovery of a major market that has been in decline following the global financial meltdown.”

He says TIA has been watching Japan registrations closely and is currently expecting 14 Japanese Buyers, with just one cancellation following the earthquake and tsunami. “That’s excellent news given Japan is our fifth largest market, and one that had been showing good growth prior to the 11 March disaster.

“Buyer numbers are also looking very good from India, one of New Zealand’s most important emerging visitor markets. We also have Buyers coming from both Russia and Brazil. Like India, these are markets with big potential for New Zealand given their large populations and fast growing middle class with a propensity for international travel.”

This is the first year TRENZ is being held in the Southern Lakes region. Being host to so many influential buyers from New Zealand’s key offshore markets is a huge opportunity for the region, says Dave Hawkey, Southern Lakes Chairman.

"The tourism industry is facing significant challenges at present. We're working closely with the region's tourism operators and TIA to ensure the Southern Lakes and New Zealand leave a lasting impression on the Buyers, profiling the diversity of the region and what it has to offer while also reinforcing the message that 99% of New Zealand is open for business. This message will also be key for the large number of leading international travel media who are attending TRENZ."

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