Tourism Auckland backs Auckland Airport's stake in Queenstown

Today’s announcement that Auckland Airport has acquired a 24.9 percent stake in Queenstown Airport is great news for Auckland.

Tourism Auckland welcomes the prospect of a strategic alliance with Queenstown Airport ‘as making perfect business sense’ given that the major visitor flow to Queenstown is through Auckland Airport.

Tourism Auckland Chief Executive, Graeme Osborne, says this is an exciting move by New Zealand’s largest airport company that will have benefits for Auckland.

“It’s very positive to see the airport company working with the South Island’s key visitor destination for the mutual benefit of both our regions.”

This alliance will open up more opportunities for joint venture marketing with Queenstown to help drive visitors to enjoy the dual destinations,” he says.

The strategic alliance commits both airport companies to work together to drive more tourist traffic into New Zealand and through the two airports.

Auckland Airport’s chairman, Tony Frankham, says through this strategic alliance, the country’s number one travel gateway and our premier tourist destination will work closer together to grow New Zealand tourism.

“Our shared goal is to grow passenger volumes at both Auckland and Queenstown airports through strengthened air services development and dual-destination tourism promotions.”

Tourism is big business in Auckland, generating in excess of $3 billion of GDP per annum and supporting more than 50,000 full time jobs.