South Island ready to drive recovery
South Island tourism groups in New Zealand are joining forces to promote “self-drive” holidays to Australians and potentially tourists from Southeast Asia.
Stuff.nz reports that Tourism New Zealand and regional tourism organisations are launching a $1.6 million campaign to encourage overseas tourists to enjoy scenic drives or other South Island escapes such as a rail journey.
The South Island tourism industry is still suffering from lower tourism numbers after the February 22 Christchurch earthquake.
“There’s about 10 major road trip routes that are pretty popular … the heroes of the campaign are actually the road trips themselves,” said Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive, Tim Hunter,
Advertising on travel websites and print advertising in Australian newspapers would start next month and would look to take advantage of visitors in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.
The tourism groups would also be promoting dual road/rail trips based on the highlights of the South Island.
KiwiRail mothballed its Christchurch-Picton TranzCoastal service in early April following the Christchurch earthquakes.
KiwiRail said the service – to be relaunched on August 15 – was being rebranded as Coastal Pacific to “give it an identity of its own” and differentiate it from the TranzAlpine service.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025