As Christchurch prepares to welcome 850 international delegates and media for Unesco’s high-profile 31st World Heritage Committee meeting this week, the city is celebrating a 107% increase in conference business since 2005.
Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) latest statistics (projected to year end June 2007) show Christchurch has recorded the largest number of conference events ever in the city and number of delegate days has more than doubled over the past two years, adding in excess of $51 million direct spend to the Christchurch and Canterbury economy annually.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting will inject $4.26 million* in to the city over 12 days from 23 June.
It is one of seven large international conferences staged in Christchurch this winter alone.
In recent weeks the city has hosted the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the World Seed Convention, and this week’s Evolution 2007 scientific meeting with 1000 delegates from 35 countries.
It is the first time New Zealand has hosted the World Heritage Committee’s annual meeting.
At the meeting it will be decided whether or not nominated sites will attain World Heritage list status and Australia is nominating the Sydney Opera House.
For more information visit: www.christchurchconventions.co.nz
Report by The Mole
