Tourism NZ Board affirms Dunedin as growing destination

Dunedin is attracting more international visits by promoting the city’s unique points of difference, such as its wildlife icons and heritage buildings, the chair of the Tourism New Zealand Board commented on a recent visit.

Through our increasingly outward-looking focus, ability to attract world-class events, cruise visits and increased marketing, more international visitors are including the city in their itineraries, which is leading to economic benefit for Dunedin, Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says. In the year ending September 2017, international visits to Dunedin were up 3.14%, compared with the previous year, with a spend of $205 million, up 6.45%.

Tourism New Zealand Chair Kerry Prendergast says Dunedin is a good fit for Tourism New Zealand’s regional dispersal strategy which focuses on encouraging visitors to explore outside the main tourism destinations and during the shoulder season.

The Tourism New Zealand Board and Core Leadership Team held their board meeting in Dunedin last week, and toured some of the city’s key tourism attractions.

“Stunning weather meant the spectacular view from Signal Hill was unparalleled, and the other attractions we visited were all world class. Tourism New Zealand works to encourage people into the regions to spread the many benefits that tourism delivers. Towns that identify their unique points of difference and tell authentic stories are those that attract valuable tourists to their communities - Dunedin is clearly doing that,” Ms Prendergast says.

The visit was especially timely in the lead up to TRENZ 2018, New Zealand’s most important annual travel trade event, being held in Dunedin for the first time in May this year.

The group enjoyed an itinerary of city sights including the Signal Hill Lookout, the new Tūhura Otago Community Trust Science Centre, Emerson’s Brewery, Larnach Castle and the Royal Albatross Colony. The visit culminated in a dinner attended by Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull and Enterprise Dunedin Director John Christie, alongside major Dunedin tourism stakeholders.

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