Christchurch eyes Asian travellers
SINGAPORE, 4 November 2011 – New Zealand’s quake-hit city of Christchurch is targeting Asia as it ramps up efforts to boost tourist arrivals while Western economies continue to struggle, a top official said Thursday.
Tim Hunter, chief executive of the Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism office, said most of the city was now back on its feet except for the central area, which bore the brunt of the 22 February tremor that killed 181 people.
Asia “is hugely important now because of the financial catastrophe in America and Europe,” Hunter told AFP in Singapore, where he met key travel industry players.
Saucy soap sells NZ
July 28, 2011 by Paphada Apimonton
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 28 July 2011 – Tourism New Zealand hopes to convince Thai Airways International to resume flights after it reduced capacity to Auckland following the February earthquake.
Outlining its marketing directions to Thai travel agents, Monday, TNZ manager Thailand, Roskamol Vongchowanart, said the focus now was on regaining seat capacity on the Bangkok-Auckland route in a bid to revive travel to South Island destinations.
“Currently, THAI serves Auckland with five weekly services, but we hope to convince the airline to resume daily service after it cancelled services in the wake of the earthquake last February,” she told TTR. Read more
Christchurch hit by dust storms
CHRISTCHURCH, 2 March 2011 – Strong winds whipped up huge dust clouds in earthquake-hit Christchurch Wednesday, as officials defended the devastated city’s building standards.
Gusts of 70 kmph (44 mph) buffeted emergency crews in the ruins of New Zealand’s second largest city, hampering the search for bodies amid fears of masonry dislodging and trees toppling.
“In some places it was difficult to stand up, you’d look across the city and see these enormous clouds of dust blowing down the main avenues — it’s been a terrible day,” mayor Bob Parker said.
THAI to increase NZ services
January 4, 2011 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 4 January 2011 – Thai Airways International confirmed, last week, it will increase its Auckland service to daily this July, ahead of the Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted in New Zealand’s cities 9 September and 23 October.
Currently, THAI offers five weekly services, but according to the airline’s statement the two additional services will lift capacity on the route by 40%, or around 60,000 seats a year.
During 2010, around 105,000 passengers flew THAI between the two countries. Visitors from Thailand to New Zealand grew 7% during 2010.
TNZ partnership to sell self-drive holidays
December 23, 2010 by Paphada Apimonton
Filed under Pacific, Tour Operators
BANGKOK, 23 December 2010 – Tourism New Zealand announced earlier this week a partnership with World Explorer and Singapore Airlines to sell self-drive packages.
Branded “New Zealand Wonderful Self Drive Holiday,” the deals are valid from 1 March until 30 June 2011.
There are two packages; Fly & Drive Packages and Fly & Campervan Packages. They are sold in versions A or B for stays of five nights.
TNZ uses TV soap to woo Thais
October 12, 2010 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 11 October 2010 –Tourism New Zealand will support a popular Thai television soap opera to boost holiday bookings during the off-peak season, TNZ Thailand manager, Roskamol Vongchowanart said Friday.
She was commenting on trade support in the local market on the sidelines of a product workshop, “Tourism New Zealand Frontline Agent Training” held at Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, last week.
Holiday Tours sells New Zealand trips
September 21, 2010 by Rapeepat Mantanarat
Filed under Tour Operators
BANGKOK, 21 September 2010 – Qantas and British Airways in association with Holiday Tours and Travel are selling summer season self-travel packages to New Zealand until 31 March 2011.
A Free & Easy North and South package sells at Bt34,900 including roundtrip economy class fare (Bangkok-Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown via Sydney), three nights’ accommodation, twin-share, at Golden Chain Blue Pass with daily breakfast and a return airport-hotel transfer.
ANZ denies Virgin Blue stake
WELLINGTON, 16 July 2010 – Air New Zealand denied, Friday , that it has bought into Australia-based Virgin Blue but in a statement to the New Zealand Stock Exchange it did not rule out doing so in future.
The New Zealand flag carrier and the Australian budget airline, are awaiting regulatory approval for plans to form a trans-Tasman alliance.
When the venture was announced in May both said it was not a step towards either airline taking a shareholding in the other, but Australian media reports on Friday claimed Air New Zealand wanted a 15% in Virgin Blue.
TG and TNZ in partnership
July 5, 2010 by Duangrudee Somboonruangsri
Filed under News
BANGKOK, 5 July 2010 – Tourism New Zealand will partner with Thai Airways International in a digital media marketing campaign to promote activities in New Zealand.
TNZ regional manager India and Southeast Asia, Kira Namblar said: “There is a change in our operations in Southeast Asia. We will focus on digital media and soft promotion on our website.”
New Zealand car rental seminar
April 9, 2010 by Duangrudee Somboonruangsri
Filed under News
New Zealand Tourism Board, in cooperation with Six Stars Travel, will host a free seminar, 15 May, on how to promote self-drive holidays in New Zealand.
