Northland boosts presence at TRENZ

09 May 2016 (No of pages: 2)

Northland boosts presence at TRENZ

Northland will be represented by more than a dozen businesses and Northland Inc at New Zealand’s largest annual Tourism Industry event -- TRENZ in Rotorua – this week from May 10-13.

A total of 13 Northland tourism businesses will attend TRENZ this year, and will include three first time participants who are being supported by the Regional Economic Development agency at the event.

TRENZ will be attended by 300 New Zealand tourism exhibitors who will target an audience of 356 international travel and tourism buyers from 28 countries. Overall, more than 1100 delegates will attend to negotiate tens of millions of dollars’ worth of new tourism business.

A total of 18,000 15-minute meetings will be held in those four days in Rotorua between international buyers and New Zealand exhibitors.

TRENZ showcases the finest New Zealand has to offer in food, wine, adventure, environment and culture to those buyers and media from established and emerging tourism markets which helps to keep growing New Zealand’s $30 billion tourism industry.

Figures released recently revealed an increase of 31% in visitor spending to $9.7 billion in the year to December 2015 for New Zealand; and $661 million for year to March 2015 for Northland which indicates a bright future for the industry in the region says Northland Inc’s General Manager, Regional Promotions and Tourism, Paul Davis.

“The economic trends for the whole tourism industry continues to be positive so it is great to see such a strong Northland showing at this year’s international buyer-seller tourism exchange,” Mr Davis says.

“It is also pleasing that tourism businesses in Northland are increasingly recognising the importance of events like TRENZ and are getting more involved in exhibiting what the region has to offer.”

He believes having seven companies more than in 2015 is a sign of growing confidence from tourism operators and businesses.

“As a destination Northland is looking at expanding its tourism footprint right across the region with the advent of developments like ‘Te Kōngahu’ - the new museum of Waitangi; the Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art (HAC) Gallery in Whangarei, and most recently the opening of the Tai Tokerau Queenstown Resort College tourism training facility in Paihia.

“It is what we need to do in Northland to reduce seasonality and attract greater tourist numbers all year round which means Northland tourism operators can go out to major events and confidently show what they have to offer visitors and trade buyers from both established and emerging tourism markets around the world.”

This year the three new tourism operators who will attend TRENZ 2016 are: Waipoua Lodge, Flying Kiwi Parasail and Top Trail Hire and Tours.

Those returning to TRENZ are: Salt Air, Adventure HQ ltd, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, The Kauri Museum, Footprints Waipoua, Coastal kayakers Ltd, Adventure Puketi, R. Tucker Thompson, Dive! Tutukaka and Northland Inc.

ends

© Scoop Media