INSIDE TOURISM – EXPORT MATTERS

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism (CCT) recently hosted the Tourism Export Council Board meeting and the Board stayed on for a day of sightseeing. It goes without saying that the Board were extremely impressed with the progress that has been made in the CBD in the last twelve months and the tide and fortunes are starting to change for CCT and tourism operators.

Visitor numbers are up for FIT’s and groups are starting to return. International guest nights are 33% up for Christchurch and 23% for Canterbury (end June 2013 quarter), indicating that international visitors are keen to see how the rebuild is developing. For those that weren’t aware, the CBD is back in action with all cordons down and you can walk or drive around the CBD area from Latimer Square through to the Botanical Gardens. Accommodation newly available in the CBD brings the total inventory up to 62% of pre earthquake and includes the following: Rendezvous (171 rooms), Novotel (154), Heritage OGB (36), Ibis (155), Rydges Latimer Hotel (138), Quest Serviced Apartments (72) and the’ boutique’ Hotel 115 with 30 rooms.

The Rendezvous is located at the entrance of new Regent St which has an ensemble of cafes, fudge, cookie, whiskey stores and more. The Cardboard Cathedral is located in Latimer Square and a beautiful building to look at and fascinating story of construction. It is able to host an array of functions and be a functional Anglican place of worship for up to 700 people. Opened in August 2013 it has proved itself to be a key visitor attraction and the 185 white memorial chairs representing those that lost their lives nearby (every chair is different), is a poignant and respectful reminder. The Christchurch Cathedral in the Square remains an impressive sight and the city council has done a great job of structuring walls around the entrance, peppered with mini wall gardens and bursts of colour. Other attractions include the ReStart Container Shopping Mall, the Quake City exhibition, Punting on the Avon, city sights tours with Hassle Free Tours, Rebuild Tour or Bike Tours. The Christchurch Gondola re-opened in March and the Tram will open soon, meaning all attractions are back. Six to seven new restaurants are being opened each month and of course the Botanical Gardens and Museum continue to be focal point when visiting Christchurch.

CCT is anxiously awaiting the final Government go-ahead on the Convention Centre as it is a crucial catalyst for new investment in hotels, restaurants and other tourism infrastructure.

The best recommendation on visiting Christchurch would be to take a city sights tour on arrival. It helps you appreciate how far they have come, looks at current realities and identifies future progress. Then when you or your customers have to walk that little bit further to get to a restaurant or bar, you understand why? I’ve always loved Christchurch and as a guide in past, every visitor has also loved Christchurch.  Lonely Planet acknowledges the vision and excitement of a city rebuilding itself and rates it in their top ten cities of the world.

Show you support to Christchurch by booking or recommending a holiday sooner rather than later – they are well on the way to recovery and you won’t be disappointed!

A huge congratulations to Brett, Jason and the Auckland ATEED team and Jim from West Coast for their recognition of being in the top 10 best cities and best places in the world to visit for 2014! A great endorsement from Lonely Planet and combined with Christchurch this year, New Zealand is positioning itself as a MUST VISIT destination.

Kingdom tour is qualmark endorsed and TNZ ADS approved inbound tour operates company. We are also member of TIA. We operate tour groups for both tourism from China and also locals. FIT and business delegation groups are also part of my duty. We provide highest quality services for our customers who intend to visit New Zealand. Our professional and friendly team will promise you a interest tour itinerary for your visit.

INSIDE TOURISM – CHOOSE SUCCESS OVER APATHY!

CEO of the Tourism Export Council Lesley Immink welcomes the NTP and believes that any naysayers of “we’ve been here before need to change their mindset and if they aren’t going to help the cause, then they need to get out of the way”. The NTP led by Martin Snedden has CEO’s from across the public and private sector talking with each other and this I believe is the first time in anytime of tourism history that there is a willingness for all parties to work on a longer term goal of improved profitability and yield, led by the private sector. The government has invested in us with new tourism marketing dollars and MBIE have innovation and technology funding to assist with facilitation and productivity. Will it be a perfect plan and everyone happy? Absolutely not, and for some private sector companies they might even have to suck a few kumaras for the greater good of the plan. The purpose of the plan is to increase our bottom line margins ahead of the organic growth that is likely to occur with regular good business practises. However if we choose to be sceptical about it potentially not working, then that is likely to be the result.

The biggest challenge faced is the plan surviving not only political change but tourism industry leadership change. In the next 12 months we need to work as smart and cohesively as possible to get the plan bedded down so that the various sectors of the industry know when and how they can work within the plan for their own growth strategies in the next decade.

The Tourism Export Council has changed its way of thinking in recent years. It has not only accepted the changes in distribution channels but are actively working on maximising  how they can best work in the dynamic space of pricing and  booking channels. If the ‘old boys network’ can do it, then the industry ‘glass half empty’ opinionaters, can do it too.

There are few places on earth like Kaikōura. The towering snow-clad mountains known as the Seaward Kaikōura’s provide a stunning backdrop over the town centre which extends out to the Kaikōura Peninsula, where the waves of the Pacific Ocean roll in.

These mountains rise to heights are 2600m and the undersea canyon plunges to depths of over 1200m very close to shore, these two factors alone make Kaikōura incredibly unique. There are not many places where you can be on top of a snow-capped mountain in the morning, whale watching or dolphin / seal swimming in the afternoon and then taking in a gorgeous sunset while feasting upon fresh seafood from the very ocean you are sitting beside.

This place captivates all who visit, you can’t help but be in awe of nature’s wonders both on land and out sea.

Kaikōura is located on the East Coast of the South Island. Ōtautahi Christchurch is 2.5 hours’ drive to the south of Kaikōura and Picton is 2hrs to the north. Whether self-driving, taking the Coastal Pacific train or travelling on a bus between destinations, a stop off in Kaikōura will not disappoint.

TOURISM BUSINESS MAGAZINE –

The recent Tourism Export Council Conference held in Masterton was a great forum to gather consensus on two very important issues.

The panel session of “tourism and the environment – is it a conflict or complement” gave some interesting and robust points of view re tour operators being great caretakers of the land, paying for the privilege via concession fees and it is other sectors who are failing in their duty of care. How we measure environmental sustainability was a good question posed as there have been a variety of programmes over the past decade which makes it hard to assess which is the most valuable and are visitors making choices based on sustainable care? Regardless of how this is answered, the industry was in agreement that we can do better in our environmental sustainable care and we should be doing it for ourselves and our children’s future, not necessarily for our visitors.

This led well into the issue of the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign – has it run its course and should we change it? Despite the unfortunate Fonterra  situation  and pot shots taken at the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign by scientists and mainstream media, the industry was united in its view that we should not drop the campaign, but aim to ‘live up to it’. To do this we need to engage with other industry sectors and have a louder voice to government that “we the people” want more support to DOC in assisting with the protection of our land, flora and fauna. Being more proactive across all sectors will not only be more sustainable for the environment but also protect our tourism business proposition for the next 50-100 years.

New Zealand does not have a New Zealand country brand and the 100% Pure New Zealand tourism brand has by default had to be all things to all export industries. However there is a New Zealand Inc brand to be revealed in the next few months so we wait with interest to see what it will be and how we can all leverage off it.

Also well received at Conference was the keynote address by Butch Bradley from NZ Maori Tourism and Ngahi Bidois. Butch outlined the good work at that NZ Maori Tourism are doing offshore with other export sectors and the contribution to the economy by Maori businesses, and Ngahi Bidois who is an international keynote speaker shared his cultural and leadership story. Following Butch and Ngahi was street artist Marcus Winter. Marcus did a custom made performance using sand and a light box, producing a mesmerising look at famed New Zealand icons, ending with a 100% Sure.

The Xmas Symposium will be held at the Pullman Hotel on Wednesday 11 December with registrations available soon.

Pioneer Travel founded in 2006, is a member of TAANZ, a certified ADS and QUALMARK rated inbound tour operator. Pioneer Travel has offices in New Zealand and Australia respectively. Pioneer travel is specialized in inbound tour operations, consultations and international business services. Besides operating ADS groups, Pioneer Travel also pays attention to FIT and high-end tailor made groups. Pioneer Travel has our own bus rental company that can assure our premier service for customers.

INSIDE TOURISM – CONFERENCE 2013 REPORT

Chief Executive of the Tourism Export CounciI, Lesley Immink was absolutely rapt with how well the delegates received our keynote speakers of Butch Bradley from NZ Maori Tourism and Ngahihi o t era Bidois with his leadership and personal story. “Our tourism marketing promise is promoting our scenic splendour to the world with some focus on Maori and in my opinion it should be the other way around – Maori first and the environment second. I have been impressed with team at NZ Maori Tourism and what they are trying to achieve and thought the contribution of Maori to the NZ economy should be better appreciated as well as tell the story of what they are doing offshore with other export trade sectors. More Maori product is being developed around the country and I wanted to demonstrate as Butch said that we need to change our thinking of who Maori are and look at their successes and future, not be stuck with assumptions of who we might think they are.

Ngahi like so many of our amazing exports is better known offshore for his leadership story than here in New Zealand. He delivered a powerful and thought provoking presentation and challenged us to look at ourselves for the answers to our own questions. Many delegates commented that the haka he and the Te Arawa boys performed at the end was the most heartfelt haka they had ever seen!

To finish with extra-ordinary artist Marcus Winter using sand and a lightbox doing a custom made performance representing icons of our country including being 100% Sure of our message, was mesmerising and incredible to witness. He didn’t have to be Maori but I was delighted he was and another amazing example of Maori talent.

Why was there more of an emphasis on Maori at this Conference – the question is surely 100% why not?”

It was a humble and gracious Warren Harford of the Agrodome who accepted the latest Life Member award for service to ITOC over the years. Warren served 17 years on the ITOC Board from 1996 and Vice President for 13 years. Many thanks Warren for all the assistance and inspiration you have shared with ITOC and TEC members!

Congratulations to Pacific Destinationz and Real Journeys for winning the Inbound and Operator of the Year 2013 awards which were presented at the TEC Conference, Copthorne Solway Masterton this week!