NEW ZEALAND
KIWI COMPACT
New Zealand
Recognised as one of the world’s most desirable holiday destinations, New Zealand warrants all the time in the world but much can be savoured on a shorter stay, suggests Alan Orbell
I
n a perfect world a New Zealand holiday needs at least a month – 28 days is the average for Brits
– but for many the practicalities of life mean that two or three weeks is a more realistic proposition. It is possible to get a real taste of this stunning country in a couple of weeks and the odds are your clients will be so enchanted that they’ll be back for a longer and more profi table visit in the future. Helping agents to sell New
Zealand will be its government’s timely injection of an additional NZ$24million (approximately £12million) to boost international tourism and the spin-off of the successful Hobbit movies. Both will help counter the inevitable impact of APD on air fares and the current strength of the New Zealand dollar. However, the positives are clearly winning the day and there is a strong feeling of confi dence. Brian Hawe of First Class Holidays
fi nds a refreshing air of optimism returning to the region. “I think that there is every reason to believe that the market will improve from the UK for 2014, especially with the help of the additional marketing funding.”
38 July/August 2013
These sentiments are echoed by Angela Waite of APT Touring. “TRENZ had an extremely positive vibe this year with UK buyers and sellers optimistic that the New Zealand business is returning. With the news from the UK that the economy is healing, everyone is excited about the possibility of UK visitor numbers increasing over the next few years. We are certainly seeing the growth in APT passenger numbers.” AAT Kings too is reporting strong
growth, according to its Head of Sales, David Gendle. “The UK market is performing strongly for AAT Kings New Zealand. The past year has seen an increase of more than 60% in UK passengers on our First Choice products and an increase of more than 20% in our Best Buys guided touring passenger numbers”. So what is it that so appeals to UK
visitors? In a country similar in size to the UK the pristine and varied scenic splendours are the inevitable top draw but there’s much more to New Zealand than its unsurpassed scenery.
Auckland comes of age For most, the starting point will be gateway city, Auckland, which has
www.sellinglonghaul.com
truly ‘come of age’ in recent years and is now well worth a few nights of anyone’s time. The vibrant waterfront area has been transformed and is now full of restaurants and bars with further development to come in the Wynard quarter. There are also some excellent museums including Transport and Technology (MOTAT), which gives a real fl avour of Auckland and New Zealand history, and the Maritime Museum which houses boats from Pacifi c Islanders’ canoes to sleek America’s Cup yachts. Admission can include a sail boat harbour cruise. Auckland also has its own harbour bridge climb and bungy jump, jet boat and jet ski tours and Skyjumps/ Skywalks from New Zealand’s tallest building, Auckland Sky Tower. What has to be one of the best deals in New Zealand is the NZ$49 Fuller’s tour to Waiheke Island. The rate includes the ferry crossing, a 90-minute tour of the island and then unlimited use of island bus services to enjoy stunning sea views, beautiful houses and vineyards. Heading south from Auckland the geothermal areas in and around Rotorua are a must on any itinerary. Away from the town centre
ANDY BELCHER
ALAN ORBELL, BMI PUBLISHING. LTD
ROB SUISTED
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76