Tourism industry to benefit from Volvo Ocean Race

Tourism Auckland looks forward to welcoming the Volvo Ocean Race to the City of Sails in March 2012.

The regional tourism organisation is delighted with today’s announcement that Auckland will be a stopover port for this major international yachting event, which last called here in 2001-2002.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of Auckland hosting the highly successful Festival of Sailing.

Tourism Auckland Chief Executive, Graeme Osborne, says securing the Volvo Ocean Race is an excellent result for New Zealand’s ultimate harbour city.

“Auckland’s reputation as a world-class sailing port continues to ring true. This event is a key opportunity to highlight Auckland as a superior lifestyle city and a global centre of excellence for yachting technology and talent.”

There’s no doubt that the race will draw international visitors to Auckland and boost hotel occupancy and visitor spend during the stopover period,” says Osborne.

As well as benefiting the tourism industry the event will showcase the City of Sails to an estimated TV audience of 1.8 billion people in 200 countries.

Formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Volvo Ocean Race takes place every three years.

The 2011–2012 race starts in Alicante, Spain in October next year. Auckland will stage the leg four finish from Sanya in China and the start of leg five, which will take the fleet around Cape Horn to the finish in Itajai, Brazil.

Auckland has a strong history associated with the Volvo Ocean Race, with famous Kiwi yachties, Sir Peter Blake and Grant Dalton, each winning an event during the 1980’s and 90’s.