Airport gives away $100,000

Auckland International Airport has given away $100,000 in a competition designed to attract Asian tourists to New Zealand.

YHA New Zealand, Explore Group, Ngati Whatua Orakei Whai Maia and ZeaYou Travel will each receive $25,000 as the winners of the competition.

Auckland Airport’s general manager of aeronautical commercial Norris Carter said the competition was designed to help attract Asian tourists in the off-peak season of May to September.

The airport asked businesses to find innovative ways of creating experiences accessible from Auckland and demonstrate an ability to attract free, independent travellers from an Asian market across the seasons, Carter said.

Winners would use the prize money for the development of a seasonally themed tourism experience for visitors from an Asian market of their choice.

YHA New Zealand is New Zealand’s largest network of backpacker accommodation with a focus on helping youth travellers explore New Zealand.

YHA manager, marketing and sales Brian Westwood said Chinese youth travellers had become the organisation’s thirdlargest international market behind Germany and Australia.

The grant would allow YHA to grow consumer awareness in China, he said.

Explore Group offers a range of tours and cruises in Auckland and the Bay of Islands. Sales manager Carole Beggs said the company used the competition as an opportunity to focus on its Asian market.

ZeaYou offers New Zealand travel activities and packages to independent Chinese travellers. It also helps New Zealand travel operators to better target the China market.

Ngati Whatua Orakei Whai Maia is the tribal development arm of Auckland iwi Ngati Whatua Orakei. It runs Tamaki Hikoi which offers guided walking tours around Auckland, sharing Maori stories, culture and heritage.

Ngati Whatua Orakei recently invested in a tourism development strategy to enhance its tourism offerings beyond Tamaki Hikoi.