Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland tourism operators are visiting Australian shores to promote the region. The ‘Auckland is Calling’ roadshow is on until next Thursday 2 March and will travel to the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economic and cultural agency, the roadshow enables tourism operators to connect with influential trade partners in the Australian market, keeping the region at the forefront of agents’ minds.
Now is the perfect time to visit Auckland, with attractions including Wētā Workshop, Island Aviation and The Big Foody, plus an incredible range of hotel accommodation and recently opened world-class golf course at Te Arai Links.
The ‘Auckland is Calling’ Australia roadshow is made possible by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s International Trade Marketing Group. Launched in September 2022 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was formed to upweight and support trade activity across priority markets, providing a stronger collective approach to showcasing Auckland on the world stage.
Elle Armon-Jones from food tour business The Big Foody says these are exciting times for her company.
“We love sharing Auckland’s food story, showcasing the region’s finest artisan offerings including wine products. As a small business, we're so pleased to have this opportunity as a member of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's International Trade Marketing Group, introducing our tours to key trade partners”.
Annie Dundas, Head of Visitor Economy at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says it’s fantastic to reconnect with trade partners and introduce new products.
“In 2019, international tourism spending was worth almost $5 billion to Auckland’s economy, with more than 2.7 million visitor arrivals. Seventy percent of visitors come through Auckland International Airport. With the world re-opening, consumers have many choices when they are deciding where to travel, and we need to be visible, or we won’t be considered.”
“Our aim is to increase visitor arrivals from Australia and length of stay, and to do this we are elevating the Australian travel sector’s knowledge of our impressive range of tourism products and Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland as a compelling destination,” Annie Dundas says.
“We’re thrilled to be going offshore and promoting our beautiful region. It shows that following the impact of the pandemic and recent weather events on our region, we are open and ready to welcome our neighbours from Australia to come and enjoy a short break in Auckland.”
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Notes to editor
- Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s International Trade Marketing Group is designed to help Tāmaki Makaurau remain competitive in a global environment where destinations are investing heavily to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Auckland-based businesses eligible to join include tourism operators, inbound operators, wholesalers, transport operators and tourism associated businesses working with international travel trade
- Businesses within Auckland’s visitor economy can voluntarily contribute to the group, which supports a programme of activity including educating and upskilling travel sellers in key markets, providing access to media and trade famils, and providing access to overseas roadshows organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
The following tourism operators are participating in the ‘Auckland is Calling’ Australia roadshow:
- Accor Hotels: Mövenpick Hotel Auckland, Pullman Auckland Hotel & Apartments, SO/ Auckland, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour
- Fullers360
- Island Aviation: Connecting visitors with the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and beyond
- Millennium Hotels: Copthorne Hotel Auckland City, Grand Millennium Auckland, M Social Auckland
- The Big Foody: Culinary tours designed to showcase Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
- The Hotel Britomart
- Wētā Workshop
- Tātaki Auckland Unlimited