THE Australian Pacific Tours group will be attending World Travel Market to launch its expanded New Zealand brands for 2000.
These include the programmes of Newmans Holidays, Travelmarvel and recently acquired New Zealand specialist Sunbeam Tours. The main APT Australia and New Zealand brochure will also make its debut at the show with a range of new product. In addition, a dedicated APT New Zealand brochure will feature a new 12-day Great New Zealand Escorted Rail Journey taking in both islands.
Prices are still being finalised but the tour will include centrally located superior hotels, an optional overnight country stay with a New Zealand family at no extra cost, all rail transport and some meals.
The tour is based on eight classic rail journeys such as the TranzAlpine Express in South Island.
Also new is a series of five-day coach tours called Regional Explorer Holidays. These will be based in Auckland, Christchurch, Rotorua or Queenstown, with apartment-style accommodation and are designed to offer a full touring itinerary without having to move on each day.
APT regional manager UK and Europe, Gary Bartelings, said: “We have expanded the dedicated New Zealand brochure to explain a bit more about the level of touring and the meals involved in the package. In the past we only focused on the actual product featured.”
He said another reason for APT’s product expansion was the fact that the New Zealand Tourism Board was at last making a serious financial commitment to the UK market. The NZTB has allocated more than £1m to a print and TV campaign to endorse its new ‘100% Pure New Zealand’ brand image.