PRESS RELEASE For immediate release
Waitangi Weekend Holiday Makers spending more this year
“New Zealand holiday makers are not letting the tougher economic times put them off enjoying their national holiday
weekend,” says Matthew Mayne CEO of Jasons Travel Media.
A recent survey conducted by Jasons on more than a thousand people’s holiday plans for Waitangi Weekend; show that
nearly half of people (45%) plan to spend more during this holiday weekend than they did for the same period last year.
Only 12% of people believed they would spend less than last year.
“While the economic outlook for 2009 looks bleak, it’s heartening to see that Kiwis will spend more on domestic tourism
over Waitangi weekend” Matthew says. “That’s good news for the accommodation industry, as well as for the New Zealand
economy.” Kiwis traditionally travel domestically for Waitangi Weekend, and 79% percent of the survey respondents
followed this trend.
Of those travelling, 55% were going to travel outside their region over the weekend, with Northland the number one
destination. Interestingly, of those visiting Northland, only 2.56% were planning on visiting Waitangi during the
weekend. Auckland was the second most popular Waitangi Weekend destination of choice for New Zealanders with the Bay of
Plenty third.
The number one choice of accommodation was with family and friends. Motels were the first choice for paid accommodation
with holiday parks second choice.
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