Maori tourism boss off to entice Chinese visitors
Reports from NZ say that Taranaki’s Maori tourism boss is winging his way to China hopeful of attracting some of the millions of keen new tourists hungry for a taste of what the world has to offer.
Tom Parsons, Maori Tourism Taranaki Trust business development manager, yesterday joined a Maori tourism Government delegation, headed by MP Dover Samuels, which is to visit five Chinese cities in 10 days.
While there, the group will meet up with Chinese tourism buyers, attend industry seminars and meet Chairman Shao Qi Wei.
The aim was to explore the burgeoning Chinese tourism market and find out what their tourists would like to experience in New Zealand, Mr Parsons said.
Against the background of a more outward looking China, 34 million Chinese are heading off to international tourism hotspots each year. This is predicted to grow to 40 million in the next few years, Mr Parsons said.
But there are concerns that Chinese who do come to New Zealand are currently being given second-rate holidays in just three or four days. “We will be trying to give them a quality experience.
“Most are coming to New Zealand as a dual destination with Australia.” “We want them to only come here.”
The delegation will visit Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Mr Parsons is also an executive member of the Maori Tourism Society, which has more than 400 members and represents 11 regional Maori tourism organisations.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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