Newsletter : September 2018
Written by Steph Kendall
Welcome to the New Zealand Tourism Guide September 2018 issue. If you have news or comments, please email us news@tourism.net.nz.
In this May newsletter:
- Inspiring Aussies to Head South
- China Tailor-Made Travel Growth Supported by TNZ
- Game of Thrones Author to Headline Kiwi Sci-fi Convention
- One of the Coolest Little Capitals in the World
- Tips for Business: Communicating Effectively with Japanese Visitors
- Tourism Site of the Month: Terrace Downs Resort
Inspiring Aussies to Head South
For the next eight weeks, Australians will be presented with inspirational images of New Zealand's iconic South Island as part of the annual South Island Journeys campaign. This is the fifth year the campaign has run. The South Island Journeys campaign runs from 10 September to 4 November with travel packages available between March and May 2019.
The campaign promotes five itineraries:
- Top of the South (encompassing Christchurch, Hanmer Springs, Murchison, Marlborough, Nelson, and Kaikoura);
- Alpine Lakes Journey (including Christchurch, Wanaka, Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, and Mackenzie district);
- TranzAlpine Explorer (taking travellers through Arthur's Pass to West Coast and south to Franz Josef, Wanaka, and Queenstown);
- Southern Scenic Route (covering Christchurch, Dunedin, the Catlins, Invercargill, Te Anau, and Milford Sound);
- Discover the South (covering Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown).
China Tailor-Made Travel Growth Supported by TNZ
Tourism New Zealand has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ctrip Customized Travel to support the growth of China tailor-made travel to New Zealand.
New Zealand leads the trend of customised travel growth at Ctrip. According to Ctrip, in the first half of 2018, total customised tour queries increased by 120 percent, while queries relating specifically to New Zealand customised tours increased by 150 percent.
Tailor-made and customised travel is a significant shift from the large group tours traditionally seen from the China market. Tour groups now make up just 35 percent of Chinese visitors, down from 39 percent in 2017. Free and Independent Travellers (FIT) now make up 39 percent of Chinese visitors, up from 32 percent in 2017.
China is an important market for New Zealand's visitor economy. As our second-largest visitor market after Australia, Chinese visitors have spent more than $1.66 billion in New Zealand over the past year. This is forecast to reach $3.06 billion per year by 2024.
Game of Thrones Author to Headline Kiwi Sci-fi Convention
Thousands of science fiction fans will descend on Wellington in 2020 after the region won the rights to host the 78th World Science Fiction Convention. Among them will be the legendary Game of Thrones author George RR Martin who has been confirmed as the Toastmaster for the event.
Tourism New Zealand's Chief Executive Stephen England-Hall says, "The high-profile event will showcase New Zealand as a fantastic host destination and a place where creative thinking is embraced. It is an excellent opportunity for Wellington and New Zealand to show how well we host large-scale global events."
The event is expected to deliver $4 million to the economy. Named CoNZealand, it will be held at multiple venues across the city, including TSB Arena, Shed 6, the Michael Fowler Centre, and Intercontinental Wellington from 29 July to 2 August 2020.
One of the Coolest Little Capitals in the World
After seven Lonely Planet writers visited New Zealand, Wellington has been named as the best destination in New Zealand. The capital was praised for its art-house cinemas and live music.
"Edgy yet sociable, colourful yet often dressed in black. Wellington is big on the unexpected and unconventional," the book says. "One of the coolest little capitals in the World, windy Wellington lives up to the hype."
Auckland was rated fourth in the list, dropping two places from the previous edition in 2016.
"(Auckland is) regularly rated one of the world's most liveable cities, and while it's never going to challenge NYC or London in the excitement stakes, it's blessed with good beaches, wine regions and a thriving dining, drinking and live music scene," Lonely Planet said.
Although it left Christchurch out of the top 20, the book said the Garden City was a vibrant city but says "scaffolding and cones will be part of Christchurch's landscape for a while yet."
Tips for Business: Communicating Effectively with Japanese Visitors
Whilst Japan is around the same size as New Zealand, Japan's population dwarves that of New Zealand with a population of over 127 million. Modern Japanese culture is a unique blend of East and West, and although tradition and heritage remain important they are increasingly combined with modern customs. Honour and etiquette remain central to their values and when you get to know them, Japanese visitors (rather than quiet, discreet and reserved) may be very warm, open and accommodating. Here are a few general points to bear in mind, so you can offer the best customer service possible.
Useful Things to Know
- Japanese people tend to like things in moderation and order, organisation, cleanliness and good service are seen as important as luxuries.
- Complaints may not be expressed very directly, so take the time to ask more open questions to resolve any problems.
- Keep a reasonable personal distance and avoid touching, as personal space is important.
- Try to avoid confrontation and expressing negative emotions.
- Smile and say 'thank you' frequently.
- Like many travellers, Japanese visitors like to have a photo to remind them of people they meet overseas, so be part of the photo call.
- Small souvenirs such as a pen with name of the hotel on it are appreciated.
- When you speak, avoid using your hands and large gestures or facial expressions.
- Wrap gifts carefully in tissue paper before putting them in a bag.
- Try to avoid anything using the number four, as this is associated with death by most Japanese.
This is the ninth article in a series of tips for business focussing on how to give great customer service to international visitors. The first eight articles focussed on:
- The Importance of Body Language (January)
- Active Listening and Understanding (February)
- Showing Respect and Awareness of Differences (March)
- Communicating Effectively in Words and Speech (April)
- Communicating Effectively with Chinese Visitors (May)
- Communicating Effectively with US Visitors (June)
- Communicating Effectively with Indian Visitors (July)
- Communicating Effectively with German Visitors (July)
Top Tourism Site of the Month
This month's Top Tourism Site Award goes to Terrace Downs Resort.
When you visit this website, the home page delivers an impact with a high-quality photograph of the Southern Alps. As you start to move around the page, the navigation kicks in and reinforces the different offers available and illustrated below the page banner: accommodation, golf, weddings, conferences and dining.
Terrace Downs Resort has won this award previously and their website's new design skin continues their emphasis on web excellence. This rendering offering visitors stunning imagery, a responsive layout and information brochures for Chinese. Korean and Japanese speakers.
Nominate a Site
If you think a New Zealand travel or tourism website deserves a 'Top Tourism Site Award', let us know about it. (View further information about the award criteria).
About the Top Tourism Site Award
The New Zealand Tourism Guide confers a Top Tourism Site Award to websites that:
- Enhance New Zealand as a travel destination
- Publish useful and informative content
- Are laid out in a professional and aesthetically-pleasing manner
- Are designed effectively for the World Wide Web
- September demonstrate easy functionality, interactivity, originality, outstanding graphic quality and marketing reach.
We welcome any feedback — send your comments to: news@tourism.net.nz
Kind regards,
The Team
Ph 0800 14 65 49
www.tourism.net.nz
New Zealand Tourism Guide
Head Office: Ground Floor, 518 Colombo Street, Christchurch