Attracting Chinese visitors to New Zealand topped the agenda of the Tourism Industry Association (TIA) New Zealand summit, held on November 4 in Auckland and attended by 230 industry representatives.
“China’s tourism sector has been developing rapidly. We must identify our target customer groups within the Chinese market because other destinations are also eyeing this market,” TIA Chairman Chris Roberts said.
The summit came up with recommendations such as improving port facilities to accommodate large cruise liners, expanding international air routes, attracting friends and relatives of international students and renovating accommodation facilities.
Currently, Australia and China are New Zealand’s top visitor markets. By 2025 the industry’s annual revenue is expected to increase to NZ$41 billion.
The New Zealand Institute for Financial Research’s data show that 228,000 Chinese visited the country in 2013 and this figure is set to double by 2019. (Translation by David)
