Air New Zealand has more than tripled the number of charter
flights it will be operating from Japan to New Zealand this summer,
in response to a resurgence in demand from this high spending
tourism market.
Between 26 December 2010 and 3 April 2011, Air New Zealand will
operate 14 return charter flights to Auckland from nine departure
points across Japan.
Air New Zealand General Manager Japan Edward Overy, says "This
is a huge increase from the four charter flights we operated last
summer, and is solid proof of the strong market recovery we are
witnessing here. Japan is a very important market for us, last year
it contributed almost 85,000 visitors to New Zealand, making it our
fifth largest tourist market.
"Japanese tourists help boost the New Zealand economy. They
spend more than any other nationality - averaging NZD4,600 in
expenditure per visitor. They're also highly satisfied tourists -
rating our scenery, unspoiled environment and un-crowded spaces
high on the list of things they appreciate about New Zealand as a
holiday destination."
Edward Overy says the airline is deliberately focusing on
attracting new tourists from key regions across Japan including
Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Okinawa, Sendai, Kumamoto, Hiroshima,
Miyazaki and Kagoshima. These visitors will complement those
already travelling on Air New Zealand's 12 scheduled services from
Tokyo (Narita Airport) and Osaka (Kansai Airport) each week.
The charter flights will utilise 230 seat Boeing 767 aircraft,
potentially bringing more than 3,000 additional Japanese visitors
to New Zealand over the popular summer season.
Air New Zealand has worked in partnership with both Tourism New
Zealand and Auckland International Airport Limited to develop the
charter programme.
Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager Japan Jason Hill says the
organisations have worked closely on the project which will see a
boost to summer arrivals on the back of 13 per cent growth in the
first half of this year.
"These charters will fly out of secondary regions, which means
they will be opening up direct flights to a new group of Japanese
visitors. It will also deliver growth above and beyond usual
expectation and provide an estimated NZD13.8 million increase in
spending for the New Zealand industry," says Jason Hill.
Travel partners in Japan promoting these New Zealand charters
include JTB, Club Tourism, Hiroden Chugokushimbun Travel, Kinki
Nippon Tourist, Kyushu Sanko Tourism, Meitetsu World Travel,
Miyazaki Kotsu Travel, Nokyo Tourist Corporation, Nishitetsu
Travel, Okinawa Tourist Service and Yomiuri Travel Service.
Source: Air New Zealand Media Release
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