Tourism Ticker

11/02/2022

Really interesting to hear from the Department of Conservation's new director-general, Penny Nelson, on the role can play in enhancing .

DOC's new boss Penny Nelson on how regenerative tourism can help the sector get through Covid to a better future.

04/02/2022

A timely reminder for us all that it's not just Omicron we have to be wary of, with one of 's most iconic operators falling prey to and suffering an "incredibly disruptive" .

One of the country's iconic tourism businesses suffers an "incredibly disruptive" cyberattack.

27/01/2022

An anxious start to 2022 for but here's a positive story of an expat - and former European rugby champ - returning home to having bought the popular Forgotten World Adventures ... before even visiting! Well done to founders Ian and Rachel Balme and great to see a new entrant in the sector in the current environment.

A former professional rugby player is acquiring Forgotten World Adventures, agreeing to buy it before even visiting.

07/04/2021

Fancy a top job at one of the world's most beautiful destinations? Get in quick as Queenstown Airport CEO Colin Keel has just resigned https://www.tourismticker.com/2021/04/07/queenstown-airport-ceo-resigns/

After five years leading the airport, Colin Keel is moving on.

04/02/2021

Big news for tourism operators, the Auditor-General has launched an inquiry into how the $290m from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme was distributed https://www.tourismticker.com/2021/02/05/auditor-general-launches-inquiry-into-stapp/

John Ryan will look at how applications for support were assessed against the programme’s criteria.

02/10/2020

The National Party has unveiled its new tourism policy, which includes an NZ tourism festival as well as a new contestable Tourism 2025 Fund for industry... alongside other initiatives it says will help the sector recover. Good? Bad? Indifferent?
https://www.tourismticker.com/2020/10/02/nats-unveil-nz-tourism-festival-new-industry-fund/

21/08/2020

After news of a well-known inbound tour operator going into liquidation, and fears many others will soon follow, we asked tourism minister Kelvin Davis to explain the Govt's position on its support for New Zealand's ITOs. Here was his response:

As many inbounders face oblivion, the tourism minister reiterates the Govt's position on its support for ITOs.

31/07/2020

Which NZ operators are “strategic tourism assets”? From large aquariums to cycle hiring, both well-known and relatively obscure businesses have secured a total of $246m from the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme.

From large aquariums to cycle hiring, both well-known and relatively obscure businesses are being funded.

24/07/2020

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa secures $2m for New Zealand's first Fly-Line experience, creating 25 new jobs and a projected $4m over the first five years of operation. Great news for the council-owned attraction!

The operator says the money is coming from both the PGF and the Govt's $3bn infrastructure fund.

04/06/2020

It's getting closer and closer... the Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group recommends a "safe travel zone" with "multiple layers of protection" to enable flights to restart.

The Trans-Tasman Safe Border Group recommends a "safe travel zone" with multiple layers of protection.

29/05/2020

Tourism New Zealand has launched its first Covid-era overseas campaign, Pure Promise, which costs just under $267,000 and runs until June - value for money? Bear in mind the agency's total budget is $112m, with $57m earmarked for its 100% Pure New Zealand activity.

Tourism New Zealand has released its first international campaign since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and resulted in a widespread shutdown of the international travel market.

21/05/2020

Here it is! Well, the first instalment at least of Tourism New Zealand's new domestic campaign Do Something New, New Zealand... what do you think?

It is the first instalment of the agency's new domestic work, focused on restarting the tourism sector.

15/05/2020

Great news for snow lovers - the country's major ski field operators NZSki, Cardrona Alpine Resorts and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts have just agreed level 2 guidelines with the government allowing them to operate this season.

NZSki, Cardrona Alpine Resorts and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts have agreed level 2 guidelines with the government.

24/04/2020

The scale of the challenge for NZ is highlighted in new data from Tourism Industry Aotearoa - TIA showing a third of operators heading into hibernation and more than 13,000 industry jobs to go because of .

Two-thirds of businesses are reducing staff numbers, according to a TIA survey.

16/04/2020

The recently-departed Wayfare chief executive on why selectively - and safely - re-opening international borders is crucial to reviving NZ’s tourism industry.

The former Wayfare CEO on why selectively and safely re-opening international borders is crucial to reviving tourism.

05/04/2020

Tourism Bay of Plenty's CEO Kristin Dunne on staying focused, the emotional adjustment of lockdown and the opportunity to collaborate on imagining a different future.

Kristin Dunne, chief executive at Tourism Bay of Plenty, on the emotional adjustment of lockdown and the opportunity to collaborate.

01/04/2020

Hassle-free Tours' Mark Gilbert on the lessons he learned rebuilding the business after the Christchurch earthquakes and how they've helped prepare him for the long haul back from the coronavirus crisis.

Having seen their city crumble in 2011, the Gilberts rebuilt their business bigger and better. Now, they're preparing to do it again.

27/03/2020

The Lowdown on the Lockdown hears from Mt Ruapehu, Whakapapa & Tūroa Ski Areas' GM of sales and marketing, Michelle Caldwell, on learning new ways of working, keeping up morale, and a message of support for all in NZ tourism.

Each day we'll bring you a story from an industry figure as they explore new ways of working.

25/03/2020

With no shortage of grim news out there we thought we'd try and give readers a little relief with our Lowdown on the Lockdown series of stories from industry figures fortunate enough to be able to explore a new way of working. First up, Auckland Zoo's Adam Taylor-Eruera.

Each day we'll bring you a story from an industry figure as they explore new ways of working.

20/03/2020

Air NZ's CEO says aviation will be reshaped by the Covid-19 crisis and the national carrier needs to be ready.

06/03/2020

To mark Sunday's International Women's Day 2020, we publish a series of interviews with some of the industry's newly appointed women leaders. Today, Te Papa's new CEO, Courtney Johnston, on landing her "ultimate job".

To mark Sunday's International Women's Day, we publish a series of interviews with some of the sector's newly appointed women leaders.

13/01/2020

Punakaiki Beach Camp and Paparoa Track services manager Jed Findlay on the opening of NZ's newest Great Walk, the launch of a new tourism business, living with extreme weather and the West Coast's big tourism plans.

The tourism manager on how the opening of NZ's latest Great Walk is transforming his West Coast business.

20/12/2019

It's time to nominate an individual who has wrought a widespread positive influence across New Zealand's diverse and dynamic tourism sector. Here's our person of the year as well as a few honourable mentions too.

It's time to nominate an individual who has wrought a widespread positive influence across this diverse sector.

22/11/2019

Scenic Hotel Group's managing director, Brendan Taylor, on the operator's $23m Legacy investment, the challenges of developing a historic site, and why it's unfair to target just the accommodation sector to pay for tourism infrastructure and marketing.

The MD on Scenic's latest $23m investment and the problem with targetting hotels to pay for infrastructure.

14/11/2019

Velocity Valley managing director Simon Short on 21 years of the pioneering ride strategy, the need for more local council investment in Rotorua tourism, and the lack of support for New Zealand's backpacker and youth sector.

The MD on 21 years of pioneering rides, the need for more local tourism investment, and the lack of support for the backpacker and youth sector.

07/11/2019

Gibbston Valley Wines's CEO Greg Hunt on a $20m expansion into luxury, the challenges involved, and the need for industry to protect the beauty that attracts tourists to Queenstown and New Zealand.

The CEO on a $20m expansion into luxury and the challenges that presented for the Queenstown winery.

29/10/2019

29/10/2019

Ruapehu Alpine Lifts' new chief executive, Jono Dean, on the business expansion to incorporate year-round operations, the challenges presented by climate change and the associated investment in snowmaking, and the skill shortages making it difficult to hire locally.

Jono Dean, on the business expansion to incorporate year round operations, the challenges presented by changing climate and the associated investment in snowmaking, and the skill shortages making it difficult to hire locally.

21/10/2019

Rafting New Zealand’s Pianika Boddington on a new venture with Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Tūwharetoa Trust, securing $500k from the Government's Provincial Growth Fund, and the challenges the adventure operator faces with climate change.

The adventure operator on a new venture with iwi, securing $500k from the PGF, and the challenge of climate change.

14/10/2019

Middle Hill MTB Park's Genevieve King on how Kaikoura's earthquake helped shape the region's newest attraction, launching the new venture and hopes for expansion.

The new operator on how Kaikoura's earthquake helped build the region's newest attraction.