The wonders of a New Zealand winter are currently being promoted
in Thailand - a country that rarely experiences temperatures of
less than 24 degrees.
While much of Thailand is in the midst of the humid rainy
season, New Zealand is being promoted as a winter wonderland by way
of a print campaign in conjunction with Thai Airways and 13 travel
agents.
Thailand's seasons are totally different from ours - hot and rainy
- so this campaign works to encourage our Active Considerers to
experience New Zealand as a winter wonderland says Tourism New
Zealand Regional Manager South and South East Asia Mischa
Mannix-Opie.
Promoting two itineraries, a nine-day North and South Island tour
and a six-day North Island tour as well as two self-drive packages,
the campaign encourages semi free independent travel (FIT) travel
from the market.
Says Mischa, "the tour itineraries and packages allow travellers to
have an element of freedom on holiday while feeling comfortable
that they are seeing a good collection of New Zealand's winter
highlights.
"The trips include a mix of North and South Island product and the
six day North Island itinerary which is Northland focused is a new
route not previously promoted in Thailand."
Research shows there is strong interest from Thailand in
independent and self-drive holidays with interest in campervan
holidays increasing, meaning that the campaign resonates well with
the market.
Running through till September, the print based campaign has
insertions in a number of key Thailand newspapers and
magazines.
Thailand is a relatively small market for New
Zealand, currently contributing around 17,000 visitors each year.
However the market is an important contributor to overall arrivals
from South East Asia.
Read more about marketing acitivity in Thailand here.