The Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key will
formally open the New Zealand Rugby Ball Venue in Tokyo today.
The unique structure, sited next to the Tokyo Tower, will be
open from 28 October to 3 November.
Today's opening will unite Japanese and New Zealand cultures,
with a formal Māori miki whakatau, or welcome, which will be
responded to by a Shinto Priest carrying out a formal blessing.
"The Rugby World Cup is a huge opportunity for New Zealand
tourism, and I am confident that many people who take the
opportunity to experience this small taste of New Zealand in Tokyo
will be inspired to experience the real thing in New Zealand in
2011," John Key said.
During the seven days the Ball is open, it will play host to a
series of public and private events aimed at promoting New Zealand
as a place to visit, work and do business with. It will also host
functions which will showcase New Zealand cuisine.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton said the Ball
had already proved its worth in Paris and London, gaining huge
exposure for New Zealand as the next host of the Rugby World Cup in
2011.
During its last two outings in Paris and London 32,500 people
have been inside the Ball to experience its tailor-made audio
visual display promoting New Zealand. An estimated 300 million
people around the world have seen media coverage of the Ball.
"The Ball has been a wonderful vehicle for promoting New Zealand
so far and it remains an important element in New Zealand's build
up to the Rugby World Cup in just 741 days," George Hickton
said.
"Arrivals from Japan have been declining for a number of years
and we need high-profile public relations events like this to get
noticed in what is a valuable market and prized market in New
Zealand's tourism mix," he added.
For further information please contact:
Cas Carter, Corporate Communications,
Tourism New Zealand
Mob 021 915 410
Read
more about the Rugby Ball Venue
Background
The Results So Far:
Paris, France in 2007
- During the 15 days the Ball was open to the public in Paris
next to the Eiffel Tower, the Ball achieved a potential world-wide
media reach of over 137 million people. 25,000 went through the
Ball and saw the show.
London, England in 2008
- During the 8 days the Ball stood in Potters Fields Park next to
London Bridge, 7,500 people went inside the Ball and experienced
the AV display.
- Over 200 million people from around the world had the
opportunity to see the Ball on screens and in newspapers and
magazines.