United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Industry chiefs say New Zealand tourism faces tough times – report from TRENZ
New Zealand Tourism Industry Association CEO Fiona Luhrs during Trenz in Christchurch, the country’s largest international tourist event attracting almost 1,500 delegates, that said the market was comparatively soft against the past few years of record growth and its tourism industry was facing tough times.
Luhrs said: “The heady days of double-digit growth are over.”
She added: “The changing dynamics of where and how people holidayed were responsible.
“Economic, demographic and social trends, and technological advances – be they in aviation, internet and broadband, or adoption of real-time reservation systems – continue to change the ball game.”
Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe said it was a tough period for tourism in New Zealand, especially combined with record fuel prices, with the cost of fuel alone for a long-haul flight to the UK at about $NZ500,000. But despite this, Air New Zealand was spending $NZ4 billion in expanding the airline.
He added though that the airline would not be afraid to cull flights that were no longer profitable. But with intense competition, it needed to be nimble and responsive to change.
Last year a record 2.38 million people visited New Zealand, up just 1.5% on 2004, with China identified as a strong new market. Luhrs adding that its influence would be huge, with the World Trade Organisation predicting China would be the world’s fifth most popular destination in 20 year’s time and 100 million Chinese travellers would head overseas by the year 2020.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said the Japanese market was a challenge and Australia remained a key market, although growth was slowing.
Report by The Mole
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel