It was a big week last week for New Zealand in China, with
tourism under the spotlight thanks to the Prime Minister and
Tourism Minister John Key's presence in Shanghai.
John Key, in China last week to mark special celebrations around
New Zealand's National Day on 9 July at the Shanghai Expo,
has been involved with special events to promote New Zealand
tourism.
Last Thurday, John Key appeared on a popular television talk
show - Kevin Hours - hosted by TV celebrity Kevin Cao.
The interview was watched by over two million Chinese viewers on
the night, and many more will see it through repeats and Internet
coverage.
Though the interview covered a range of topics about John Key's
life, his job as Prime Minister and Sino-New Zealand business
relations, it also focused on New Zealand's growing tourism
relationship with China.
Tourism New Zealand China Regional Manager Mark Frood says the
interview was a great opportunity for John Key to promote New
Zealand as a visitor destination and to explain what we have on
offer for Chinese visitors.
"New Zealand's a small country, but having the Prime Minister as
the Minister of Tourism gives us a lot of support to promote the
tourism message. The Chinese are very interested in the fact that
he took the tourism portfolio and that's a great advantage for us
in China," says Mark Frood.
In the last 10 years, New Zealand has seen visitor numbers from
China increase from around 30,000 to just over 100,000 visitors
last year. China is also forecast
to be one of New Zealand's fastest-growing markets in future.
Tourism New Zealand has committed further investment in China
under its three-year marketing plan to 2014, alongside a commitment
to increase the quality and yield from Chinese visitors.
On Friday 9 July, New Zealand celebrated its National Day at the
Shanghai World Expo. A cohort of Chinese and New Zealand media were
on hand to see John Key hand out three personal invitations for New
Zealand holidays to winners of a Tourism New Zealand online
draw.
The draw was part of Tourism New Zealand's new 'Experience New
Zealand, Right Now' campaign, which launched in April.
The three winners received a personal invitation from John Key in
front of a 1.8 ton pounamu boulder that stands at the heart of New
Zealand's pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. The boulder has attracted
wide media and public attention since its appearance at the
Expo.