New Zealand starts new tourism campaign as post-Covid-19 visits lag
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Tourism New Zealand will premiere a promotional film which highlights activities like dolphin watching and wine tasting.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WELLINGTON – New Zealand is launching a new tourism campaign with Kiwi director and actor Taika Waititi to attract visitors after the sector was hammered by Covid-19 and border closures.
Tourism New Zealand on Wednesday will premiere a 3½-minute promotional film featuring the Oscar winner and Jade Daniels, his stunt double in the HBO romantic comedy series Our Flag Means Death, which is filmed in New Zealand.
Visitors from the United States are a major target audience, said Mr Rene de Monchy, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand.
The film, shot in December 2022, will also play on social media platforms in Australia, Germany, Britain and parts of Asia.
“Competition is heating up and economic times are a bit tough in many parts of the world, so we’ve got to keep being innovative and top of mind for people,” said Mr de Monchy.
Prior to Covid-19 and the closure of New Zealand’s borders, international tourism was the country’s largest source of foreign exchange and accounted for about 5.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
Tourists are returning, but the number of overseas visitors in July was still 16 per cent lower than in July 2019.
The film, which cost NZ$689,000 (S$559,000) to make, highlights activities like dolphin watching in Kaikoura on the South Island’s east coast and wine tasting in the country’s largest city, Auckland. REUTERS
