Queenstown forges new relationship with China

A 70 strong Chinese delegation arrives in Queenstown next week as New Zealand welcomes the inaugural flight of China Southern Airlines.

A special early morning flight from Auckland will deliver airline VIP’s, top Chinese media and representatives from Chinese outbound tourism organizations to Queenstown on Tuesday (12 April).

Queenstown’s world-class activities will be on show as delegates play golf at Millbrook, experience Shotover Jet, lunch at Botswana Butchery, ride on the historic TSS Earnslaw and a enjoy a trip to historic Arrowtown. The group will meet local tourism operators and business people at a gala dinner at Millbrook Resort hosted by Queenstown Airport, Auckland Airport and Destination Queenstown.

China Southern Airlines is the fourth largest airline in the world and Asia’s biggest. Its new alliance with Auckland Airport will add 68,000 seats on a direct route to New Zealand from the major Southern China city of Guangzhou.

Queenstown Airport Chief Executive Officer Steve Sanderson said “Auckland Airport has been totally committed to growing the number of direct air links with China as quickly as possible to help New Zealand get its fair share of the fastest growing tourism market in the world.”

The Queenstown familiarization tour, part of a national one which has been organized by Auckland Airport, was the first step in leveraging opportunities presented by the arrival in New Zealand of a major new airline.

“This group is visiting only three New Zealand centres, Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. It’s great to see Queenstown operators work to welcome them. Our challenge as a resort is to be ready to host the Chinese visitors this delegation represents and to work to attract those visitors south,” he said

Mr Tony Everitt, Chief Executive Officer, Destination Queenstown, welcomed the development. “News of China Southern’s inauguration to New Zealand is most welcome. This will provide valuable additional capacity from Guangzhou province, a catchment of 90 million of some of China’s wealthiest citizens. There has been steady growth in the number of Chinese visitors to Queenstown.”
The Queenstown leg of the tour is a direct result of the strategic alliance between Auckland Airport and Queenstown Airport.


Queenstown tour details

12 April: Arrive Queenstown Airport
Shotover Jet
Arrowtown visit
Piper (bagpipes) pipes delegation from Botswana Butchery to Earnslaw
wharf
TSS Earnslaw cruise
Gala food and wine function, Millbrook Resort

Key facts:

· China Southern (CZ) will commence a three times a week A330-200 (218 seat four class) direct services per week between Guangzhou and Auckland arriving in Auckland at 1520 on Saturday 9th April, 2011.
· China Southern Airlines has to date spent almost $10 million promoting New Zealand as a tourism destination for Chinese travellers.
· New Zealand currently welcomes 123,000 visitors from China each year, making it New Zealand's fourth-largest visitor market after Australia, the UK and USA, and it is the fastest growing market.
· Chinese visitors are amongst the highest spending visitors to NZ – spending on average more per night than any other visitor with exception of Japan. With average expenditure per night of holiday visitors at over $300 per night we know these new flights will bring a significant increase the export earnings for New Zealand.
· Asia is now the biggest travel market in the world and forecast to grow the fastest over the next 20 years (IATA) with air-links being a critical component for accessing that potential growth.
· China is currently New Zealand’s fourth largest visitor market after Australia, UK and US but it is the fastest growing meaning it could be number two or three before long.