South American connection a tourism boost

South American connection a tourism boost

The tourism industry must support the new air service linking New Zealand with South America to ensure its sustainability, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) says.

TIA is welcoming Air New Zealand’s announcement of Buenos Aires to Auckland flights and says it will help achieve the industry’s goal of almost doubling total tourism revenue to $41 billion a year by 2025.

TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says the Tourism 2025 growth framework highlights the importance of air connectivity. Offering direct air links is crucial to growing visitor markets and South America offers huge potential.

“Air New Zealand’s new Buenos Aires-Auckland route will not only open up Argentina, but also the enormous opportunities available in Brazil.

“Visitor arrivals to New Zealand from Brazil grew 21% to 12,300 in the last 12 months. Although visitor numbers from Argentina are small at present, with just 4600 visitors in the past 12 months, with improved air connectivity we will definitely see more visitors from the burgeoning economies of Latin America,” he says.

Tourism 2025 identifies Latin America as an excellent high value target market that has potential to benefit the whole tourism industry.

“New, sustainable airline connections drive up visitor arrivals, which in turn grows regional wealth and jobs. I encourage tourism operators to support this new service by supporting marketing efforts, and developing fantastic activities and experiences that will appeal to South American visitors. This will both attract them to come and then to rave about New Zealand as a holiday destination to their family and friends,” Mr Roberts says.

“Air New Zealand is providing the supply – the industry has to help generate the demand.”

TIA is already developing a guide to help its members to better understand the expectations and needs of South American visitors, similar to earlier guides to the Chinese and Indian markets. This will be available next year, ahead of the launch of the new Buenos Aires-Auckland service.

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