NZ, Australia launch tourism campaign
NZ, Australia launch tourism campaign
JAKARTA (JP): The New Zealand Tourism Board (NZTB) and Tourism
New South Wales and Ansett Australia will launch advertising
campaigns next month to attract more Indonesian visitors to
Australasia.
Rick Matkoswki, the Asian regional director for Tourism New
South Wales, said yesterday the A$800,000 (US$619,633) campaign,
called "Sydney, All Day Long, All Night Long", was designed to
increase Indonesians' interest in the city.
Besides Ansett Australia Indonesia's seven largest travel
agencies: Anta Express, Bayu Buana, Dwidaya Tour, Panen Tour,
Smailing Tour, Vaya Tour and Wita Tour will be involved in the
campaign. They will organize a tour package called "The Sydney
Surprise".
The package comprises Ansett Australia flights, three nights
hotel accommodation, and several optional visits to places
including amusement parks and shopping centers, he said.
"The travel packet allows the visitors to do their own thing,"
he said.
Andrew Boyle, NZTB's marketing manager for South East Asia,
said the board's S$500,000 (US$352,121) campaign was expected to
increase Indonesian visitors to New Zealand by 15 percent to
about 15,000 people this year from 12,820 last year.
Boyle estimated the increase would bring about NZ$50.8 million
(US$34.62 million) into the country.
The promotion starts next month and includes print
advertisement, trips and training for staff at the cooperating
travel agencies, and incentive markets, he said.
He said Indonesians did not need a visa to enter New Zealand.
He said the board, which invested $440,000 of the campaign's
total cost, would also cooperate with travel agencies and an
airline company by offering tour packages.
Singapore Airlines and six local travel agents: Wita, Anta
Express, Vayatour, Panen Tour, Smailing and Buana Leisure, will
launch packages to New Zealand starting at US$1,188 per adult for
a six-day trip, which includes a free night in Singapore.
Special itineraries and new attractions would be offered for
Indonesian tourists, including the Trans-Alpine train ride across
the Southern Alps, glacier sightseeing along the South Island's
west coast, and fruit picking in Napier, he said.
The packages would also offer cultural stays at traditional
Maori farms and tours of New Zealand's major cities which offer
everything from shopping centers to casinos, he said.
Boyle said he was optimistic about the campaign because
Indonesians were interested in New Zealand's attractions.
"Indonesian visitors are attracted to the beautiful natural
sites of New Zealand as well as the outdoor and indoor
activities," he said.
He said New Zealand's closeness and the way its features
contrasted with Indonesia's were the main attractions for
tourists.
The number of Indonesian tourists to New Zealand was low
compared to other countries in the region like Thailand which had
31,167 Indonesian visitors last year, he said.
As one of the region's most rapidly growing outbound tourism
markets traveling was becoming a lifestyle of the Indonesians, he
said. (02)