Australia, NZ & South Pacific

New Zealand to Rebuild ChristChurch Tourism Attraction After Much Infighting

New Zealand to Rebuild ChristChurch Tourism Attraction After Much Infighting

Nick Perry, Associated Press

It shouldn't have taken a half-dozen years to decide on a rebuilding plan of the iconic church. Let's pray that the 10-year timetable to reopen doesn't get elongated further.

2 weeks ago

Social Media Influencers Have Little Sway Over Asia-Pacific Travelers

Social Media Influencers Have Little Sway Over Asia-Pacific Travelers

Andrew Sheivachman, Skift

There is a ton of variation in the behavior of travelers from different countries across the Asia-Pacific region. Travel companies should pay more attention to the specific needs of the travelers they're trying to reach.

1 month ago

Singapore’s Cruise Ships Are Luring Indian Visitors in Droves

Singapore’s Cruise Ships Are Luring Indian Visitors in Droves

Krystal Chia, Bloomberg

Indians are flocking to Singapore because the city-state is a hub port near many attractive Southeast Asian cruise destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cruise lines are adding ships and routes, which could fuel the trend.

2 months ago

New Zealand Appoints Bryce Dallas Howard as Its Newest Tourism Ambassador

New Zealand Appoints Bryce Dallas Howard as Its Newest Tourism Ambassador

Nick Perry, Associated Press

Just who makes the cut as a tourism ambassador for different destinations is a baffling science, but if Howard can relate with travelers by sharing her own lifelong experiences of visiting New Zealand, it'll be a big plus for the destination.

2 months ago

Australia May Also Ban Laptops in Aircraft Cabins

Australia May Also Ban Laptops in Aircraft Cabins

Rod McGuirk, Associated Press

It looks like calls for the laptop ban are intensifying across the world. This is bad news for flyers and airlines alike.

4 months ago

New Zealand Has Reduced Its Outlook on Chinese Tourism

New Zealand Has Reduced Its Outlook on Chinese Tourism

Tracy Withers, Bloomberg

Tourism has quietly become New Zealand's top export. But uncertainty surrounding the desire and ability of Chinese travelers to visit has drastically reduced its outlook for the future.

4 months ago

New Zealand Sees Boom in Same-Sex Destination Weddings

New Zealand Sees Boom in Same-Sex Destination Weddings

Chris Bourke and Kimberley Painter, Bloomberg

While Down Under has rejected marriage for same-sex couples, equality exists three hours away in New Zealand, which claims rising numbers of international visitors choosing it as a wedding destination.

5 months ago

Australian Hoteliers Are Having a Hard Time Finding Space for a Record Number of Chinese Tourists

Australian Hoteliers Are Having a Hard Time Finding Space for a Record Number of Chinese Tourists

Dan Peltier, Skift

China is the largest jackpot that many destinations including Australia are aggressively targeting but they should also ensure they have enough hotel rooms to keep up with demand before they open the marketing campaign and flight floodgates.

5 months ago

More Chinese Tourists to Hawaii Are Having Their Visas Rejected

More Chinese Tourists to Hawaii Are Having Their Visas Rejected

Associated Press

The arbitrariness of both business and leisure travel into the U.S. is becoming a huge challenge for inbound tourism.

6 months ago

Want to Know the Next Hot Beach Town for Tourism? Ask a Surfer

Want to Know the Next Hot Beach Town for Tourism? Ask a Surfer

Michael Heath, Bloomberg

This study — which shows that surfers can be a bellwether for future visitor growth — could help destinations adequately prepare for more tourists before they are overwhelmed.

6 months ago

New Zealand Doesn’t Have Enough Hotel Rooms to Accommodate Crush of Tourists

New Zealand Doesn’t Have Enough Hotel Rooms to Accommodate Crush of Tourists

Tracy Withers and Matthew Brockett, Bloomberg

New Zealand needs to come to terms with its infrastructure problems in hospitality or it will be maxing out tourism opportunities. Although sometimes that can be a good thing if a destination gets overrun with visitors.

6 months ago

Hawaiian Airlines Is First U.S. Airliner to Help Monitor Climate Change

Hawaiian Airlines Is First U.S. Airliner to Help Monitor Climate Change

Associated Press

The sprawling Pacific has few weather observation posts. To fill the gap, scientists are fitting air and pollution monitors onto commercial aircraft. Kudos to Hawaiian for being the first U.S. airline (and the seventh airliner worldwide) to participate.

7 months ago

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