New regional groupto make WTM debut

Central north island marketing alliance

New regional groupto make WTM debut

Report by ALANMOORE

New Zealand’s recently formed Central North Island Marketing Alliance, a regional grouping of eight major destinations, is making its debut at World Travel Market next month.

It is one of nine partners joining Tourism New Zealand at the show, boosting the number of representatives and the size of the country’s stand by more than 20% over last year.

CNIMA, formally launched at New Zealand’s annual trade show, Trenz, in Christchurch last May, is the amalgam of five regional boards, set up over the last 18 months.

These include Twin Coast Discovery, covering Northland and Auckland in the North Island; Centre Stage, which includes Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough; South Island Marketing Alliance, representing Canterbury, the West Coast, Dunedin and Southland; and the Southern Lakes, for Queenstown, Fiordland and Wanaka.

Key features and destinations of Central North Island include Waikato, for its farm stays, and exploration of the Waitomo Caves; and Rotorua, an important centre of Maori culture and geothermal activity. Additional popular areas include Hawkes Bay, noted for its wine production and Art Deco city of Napier.

All five regions will be represented at WTM, along with other newcomers including hotel group Mitchell Corp and the Pacific Coast Highway Marketing group.

Tourism New Zealand market development manager UK, Peter Tippen, said: “The formation of the regional marketing organisations is also an effective way to highlight to agents the many attractions that the country has to offer.”

Wellington: the destination is being marketed as part of the Central North Island group