The optimistic outlook for continued growth has been confirmed
with the increase of airline services and capacity over the summer
high season. Direct services from China to New Zealand have
increased to 13 per week. Christmas and New Year saw significant
activity being undertaken in market, including the launch of the
daily service from China Southern in November 2011.
Economy
Although China's GDP growth is expected to slow to a 13-year low
of 8.2 per cent in 2012, its economic performance continues to
outstrip most countries. However the World Bank has raised its
forecast for 2013 to 8.6 per cent on the back of an expected mild
recovery in external demand next year (World Bank April 2012
quarterly update).
Key Indicators
Sources:
www.xe.com (Exchange rates)
| Exchange Rate vs NZD |
NZD1 = 4.947CNY ( 10 May 2011) |
| Expected GDP Growth |
+8.2% for 2012
|
For more detailed information on the Chinese economy read
the economic analysis in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's China country brief or the Report on the 12th Five Year Plan.
Outbound Travel
While most holiday visitors from China travel to New Zealand
with organised group tours (67 per cent), there is increasing
interest from families and small groups in self-drive and campervan
itineraries. These self-drive tourists are most likely to visit
Auckland (97 per cent), Rotorua (34 per cent), Canterbury (28 per
cent) and Taupo (24 per cent), and are most interested in shopping
(88 per cent), and scenic natural attractions type activities such
as walking and trekking (82 per cent).
The Chinese market continues to be predominantly
dual-destination. More than 70 per cent of Chinese holiday visitors
to New Zealand visit another country as part of the same trip.
Awareness of destination New Zealand is growing in China through
targeted campaign, public relations, and marketing activities
undertaken by Tourism New Zealand alongside airlines and travel
trade organisations.
Tourism New Zealand's tailored familiarisation programmes are
taking effect, with growing knowledge of the uniqueness of New
Zealand tourism options. Establishing a greater understanding of
what it is about New Zealand that appeals to travellers from China
has helped shaped these programmes to ensure their success.
Travel agencies, especially from southern China, are very
positive about promoting New Zealand products, with some agencies
reporting they sold 20 per cent more trips for the 2011/12 summer
season compared to 2010.
Booking tickets online is also becoming more popular in China.
Korean Airlines report that online direct bookings to New Zealand
from China have increased 500 per cent compared to 2010. Air New
Zealand launched their online booking channel in October 2011.
Airline Update
New air routes and growing airline capacity, with direct
services increasing from five in March 2011 to 13 in December 2011,
continue to provide improved access into New Zealand.
Air New Zealand currently flies twice a week from Beijing and
four times per week from Shanghai. It will stop flying from Beijing
by the end of June, and will add one more weekly flight to
Shanghai, and aims to be running a daily service from there by
year's end. China Southern Airlines increased its direct route from
Guangzhou to Auckland to a daily service in 1 November, after only
opening the route in April.
New Zealand is also well served by indirect services with
Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Korean Air. The introduction
of Jetstar services from South East Asia has also helped increase
Chinese visitor numbers by providing low-fare options. Jetstar
links into major cities in China, allowing travellers to connect to
the airline's South East Asian hub in Singapore and travel onwards
to New Zealand.
Competitor activity
The UK is not setting a ceiling on the number of Chinese visas
it will issue this year because of the Olympic Games.
Canada has launched its annual promotional campaign on 24 April
to select image ambassadors nationwide in China. The five winning
contestants get to star in a travel television show that follows
their visit to Canada. Canada has also simplified its visa process
in China, and is targeting a five-day turn-around for priority
travel agencies.
Australian Tourism used Taiwanese celebrities Show Lo and Rainie
Yang to launch its first micro-movie in China and Hong Kong. The
movie aims to woo more tourists by presenting Australian cultures
and scenery in an aesthetic light.