Kiwis give Canterbury three top spots

Canterbury’s popularity as a top holiday destination has been sealed, with three of the region’s tourist attractions winning a top 10 slot in the AA’s 101 Must Do’s for Kiwis.

In a list dominated by South Island destinations, the alpine majesty of Aoraki Mount Cook secured it sixth spot in the Must Do list. Close behind in seventh place was Coastal Kaikoura, while Hanmer Springs came in at number eight.

The top two spots in the Must Do list went to Fiordland.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Ian Bougen says it is great to see the region featuring so prominently in the list of places Kiwis must visit.

“As a region Canterbury has a lot to offer and it’s fantastic to see that reflected in the strong showing of local attractions in the top 10. Christchurch and Canterbury is not only the gateway to the south, but it is also a destination in it own right. The diversity the region has to offer is almost unparalleled,’’ Mr Bougen says.

He believes the AA’s campaign has increased Kiwis’ awareness of the many different and enjoyable holiday experiences on offer throughout New Zealand and that it will encourage more Kiwis to explore their own country.

“Sometimes it is easy to overlook what is on your doorstep. What this campaign has shown is that New Zealanders don’t need to travel abroad to experience world-class visitor attractions,’’ Mr Bougen says.

Peter Blackwell, General Manager of AA Tourism, is completely staggered by the public response to the 101 Must Do’s For Kiwis campaign.

“It has well and truly exceeded all our expectations, with over 7.7 million page impressions on the website and almost 200,000 votes cast online. Our research shows that 67 per cent of those who have seen the 101 campaign say it has increased their interest in visiting more destinations in New Zealand.”

Mr Blackwell says there has been little investment or focus on domestic tourism for the past few decades, and the time is right to put the Kiwi holiday back on the map and back into the minds of New Zealanders.

“The AA hopes the 101 Must Do’s For Kiwis will become an essential list of locations and activities for every New Zealander to experience during their lifetime,” says Mr Blackwell.

ENDS

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