Kiwi Link, Tourism New Zealand‘s flagship trade event, made a triumphant return in India this year, reuniting New Zealand tourism businesses with Indian travel sellers. After a 5-year hiatus, a 41-member delegation of New Zealand’s industry representatives, converged to reconnect with 65 Indian buyersfrom July 10 – 12, 2024. The 3-day event facilitated over 1,600 B2B meetings, showcasing the pacific nation’s diverse offerings and fostering partnership growth.
In an exclusive conversation with ETTravelWorld on the sidelines of Kiwi Link 2024, Rene de Monchy, Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, emphasised the country’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with India during his visit to the Kiwi Link event in Mumbai. “After a five-year hiatus, the event marks a significant step in reconnecting with the Indian market, underscoring the importance of India as a key tourism partner for New Zealand.
Reconnecting with Indian trade partners
De Monchy highlighted the success of the Kiwi Link India 2024, which saw the participation of 41 partners from New Zealand including 36 tourism businesses, two airlines, two airports, and Immigration New Zealand, who reconnected with Indian travel trade community in Mumbai. “The mood was very optimistic, with both old connections being rekindled and new ones being made,” he noted. This sentiment reflects the enthusiasm of the travel trade in India and their eagerness to promote New Zealand as a prime destination.
Strengthening trade channels
The primary objective of de Monchy’s visit was to reconnect and strengthen trade channels between New Zealand and India. “Over the three days of Kiwi Link, we engaged with product managers and frontline travel agents, showing them what’s new in New Zealand and explaining all the fantastic things there are to do year-round,” he explained. With 85 per cent of travel to New Zealand booked through the trade channel, these engagements are crucial for ensuring that Indian travel agents are well-informed and equipped to offer their clients memorable experiences.
Positive trends and impressive statistics
Tourism New Zealand is optimistic about the potential for growth from the Indian market. De Monchy shared that up to April, the holiday arrivals had reached 70.60 per cent of pre-COVID levels, with 20,100 holiday arrivals in NZ out of the total 84,315 Indian visitors that visited the nation in the past 12 months. Looking ahead, Tourism New Zealand aims to grow the tourism sector by USD 5 billion over the next four years, with a particular focus on the off-peak months from March to November.
India is among the top ten markets for New Zealand, and it has shown the fastest recovery rate post-COVID. While Australia, China, and the US remain the top three markets, India is viewed as a market with significant potential for future growth. “We see a lot of potential for growing tourism in New Zealand, especially given the travel trends and the times of year that Indian travellers prefer to visit,” de Monchy said.
De Monchy also touched on emerging travel trends that align well with New Zealand’s offerings. “Trends such as slow travel and meaningful travel have accelerated post-COVID. New Zealand, with its diverse landscapes and focus on conservation and outdoor activities, is perfectly positioned to cater to these trends,” he explained. The average length of stay for an Indian visitor is 13 days, allowing ample time to explore the country’s varied attractions.
Sustainability and conscious travel
Sustainability is a key focus for Tourism New Zealand. De Monchy mentioned a growing consciousness among travellers regarding their environmental impact, with an increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly tourism practices. New Zealand’s emphasis on outdoor activities and conservation makes it an ideal destination for conscious travellers.
India has been ranked at 82nd spot on a global passport index, allowing Indians visa-free entry to 58 countries, including popular destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. “The city-state also sets a new record score, with its citizens now enjoying access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain drop to joint-2nd place, each with visa-free access to 192 destinations,” according to the Index.
Talking about campaigns, De Moncy mentioned that Tourism New Zealand continues to use its well-known brand slogan, “100 per cent Pure New Zealand,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary this month. They also launched the “If You Seek” campaign post-COVID, highlighting the variety of activities and regions in New Zealand.
De Monchy also congratulated the Indian cricket team on its recent T20 World Cup win and hinted at potential promotional opportunities tied to cricket, leveraging the strong cricketing ties between the two nations.
The challenge of direct flights
One significant challenge in connectivity between both the countries is the lack of direct flights between India and New Zealand. De Monchy acknowledged the demand for direct flights and the ongoing discussions with airline partners. “A direct flight would lower the barrier to visiting New Zealand, making it easier for travellers to make the decision,” he said.
Looking ahead, de Monchy reiterated Tourism New Zealand’s vision of growing the tourism sector by USD 5 billion over the next four years, with a focus on off-peak travel. “Tourism is hugely important to New Zealand, and we see a significant role for Indian visitors in achieving our goals. We look forward to India playing a vital role in the growth of New Zealand’s tourism sector,” he concluded.
