We are working towards deepening ties and will have a great relation between India and New Zealand, said New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon during a travel and tourism reception held in Mumbai.
Luxon attended Tourism New Zealand’s travel and tourism reception titled ‘100% Pure New Zealand’ held at the Taj Mahal Palace on Wednesday. At the reception, Luxon announced a series of initiatives in Mumbai to strengthen tourism ties between both the countries.
“Indians are loving New Zealand from the tourism point of view because of its environment as well as scenery and especially the warmth of the people. There is a lot more we can do to boost tourism and education tourism. We are working towards deepening ties with India. We are gonna have a great relation between India and New Zealand,” said Luxon while speaking at the event.
The reception was an initiative by Tourism New Zealand to boost Indian arrivals through a combination of strategic alliances and seasonal travel initiatives. It aimed to make it easier for Indian travellers to discover, visit, and experience New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes, and immerse themselves in the unique culture and warmth of the country.
A series of initiatives were announced to remove traditional barriers, streamline booking processes and create compelling new reasons for Indian visitors to choose New Zealand as their premier holiday destination all year round. Air India’s New Zealand-born chief executive officer Campbell Wilson and Air New Zealand’s chief executive officer Greg Foran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a codeshare partnership, which will boost connectivity on 16 routes and will also result in a direct flight between Delhi and Auckland in 2028.
Tourism New Zealand, Auckland Airport and Air New Zealand also signed an MoU committing investment to a joint seasonal marketing campaign to build demand and drive off-peak visitation to New Zealand. This joint investment underscores the shared ambition to strengthen New Zealand’s position as a preferred destination for Indian visitors, specifically during the autumn, winter and spring seasons.
Recognising the valuable role played by the travel trade industry, joint venture agreements were also signed with nine Indian travel partners. These collaborations are expected to drive visitation via curated travel experiences specifically designed to meet Indian traveller preferences, with particular focus on promoting New Zealand’s winter and spring seasons.
An exclusive integrated winter campaign was also announced, combining compelling media content with promotional travel packages. This initiative is said to inspire Indian visitors through strategic digital media placements while offering immediate conversion opportunities through travel partners featuring New Zealand’s breathtaking snow-capped destinations, adventure sports, and luxury stays during the winter season.
René de Monchy, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand said, “India is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing markets, with holiday visitor numbers experiencing double-digit growth, and huge potential to keep growing. We are focused on enhancing these commercial partnerships and through improved connectivity and strategically targeted high-impact marketing campaigns, we are keen to convert this interest into bookings and visitation.”
“Tourism remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economy, the second-largest export earner behind only agriculture. With Indians typically travelling outbound during their key holiday periods that align perfectly with New Zealand’s traditionally quieter seasons, we see a significant opportunity for medium and long-term growth as a preferred, premier holiday destination for Indian visitors all-year round,” Monchy added.
