Tourism NZ salutes The Mole’s visit
“My advice to anybody who is considering, even remotely, of going or selling a trip to New Zealand is to do so without hesitation.”
So said TravellMole UK’s Graham McKenzie in a blog-post on the TravelMole website last week.
The blog, entitled “New Zealand: a farewell train journey”, was the final in a series of seven travel blogs written by McKenzie during a three-week-long trip to New Zealand.
His visit took in much of the North Island and included a ferry trip from Wellington to Picton for a tour of the Marlborough Sounds.
Highlights included “the locals, the topography, the wine… the history, the food and all of the helpful people both in New Zealand and at home who made it such an extraordinary time”, Mackenzie said.
“Only the very heart of Christchurch is now out of bounds for the tourist. The rest of the country is very accessible, very beautiful and very memorable.
“Was it the trip of a lifetime? So far, absolutely, but I need to go again to make sure!”
Mackenzie’s visit was promoted with banner ads in TravelMole’s daily e-newsletter, read by more than 20,000 subscribers, and via updates to Tourism New Zealand’s Global Travel Seller Facebook page.
He benefited from travel discounts provided through Tourism New Zealand’s Explore New Zealand programme for travel sellers and media during his trip.
The blogs and promotion contributed to an 82 percent rise in new visits to Tourism New Zealand’s Trade website between 19 February and 16 March.
Ian Jarrett
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