Tourism New Zealand earmarks Thai market
Tourism New Zealand is boosting its marketing activities in Thailand with the aim of bringing in 5 per cent more Thai visitors this year.
Steven Dixon, regional manager for South and Southeast Asia, said New Zealand’s national tourism agency would continue promoting its tourism products and activities in Thailand, along with Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Japan, South Korea and China, along with countries in the West.
"We are optimistic about arrivals from all of Southeast Asia, as well as China and India," he said.
The agency aims to boost the number of Thai visitors by 5 per cent this year, from 21,696 in 2014.
New Zealand received 2.71 million international tourists in 2013, and 2.85 million in 2014, accounting for growth of just over 5 per cent per year. The top five markets were Australia, China, the United States, Britain and Japan.
Dixon said that though New Zealand was famous for self-driving experiences, food and wine, culture and study tours, the government was now focusing on three new emerging groups, namely meetings, incentives, convention and exhibitions (MICE), premium travellers, and top emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Brazil.
He said Tourism New Zealand was strengthening its marketing strategies and planned to work with travel agencies in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai. It is also working with wholesale operators to lure more MICE travellers along with organising business-matching events.
New Zealand is set to open two new convention centres this year – one in Christchurch and the other in Auckland. The agency will also offer first-time familiarisation trips for operators in Southeast Asia.
Tourism New Zealand is also participating in the week-long International Travel Fair, which kicked off at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok yesterday and is offering seven-day packages priced between Bt52,900 and Bt99,900.
