The role Christchurch Airport plays in tourism has been
highlighted by today's release of the Tourism 2025 industry growth
framework. The framework released by Tourism Industry Association
(TIA) revealed an industry wide goal to contribute $41 billion a
year to the economy by 2025.
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Malcolm Johns says there is
a role for every operator in the South Island to play under Tourism
2025, no matter how big or how small they might be.
He says the South Island has long been the engine room of 'brand
New Zealand', the New Zealand international marketing weapon.
"The South Island has a major role to play in Tourism 2025 to
ensure the national benefits generated here spread widely across
New Zealand and are not just concentrated in a few spots," says Mr
Johns.
"The team at Christchurch Airport is passionate about the whole
of the South Island and what we can do to create opportunities for
all operators from Marlborough Sounds to Stewart Island. The
airport is the island's front door to its people, experiences and
iconic scenery.
"The South Island experience has long been the foundation that
creates New Zealand's global word-of-mouth marketing for
international visitors who've been here. Visitor experience is one
of the key planks of the 2025 framework, as is building air
connectivity. It makes sense for planes to go to where the people
want to visit."
Mr Johns highlights as recent examples the work the airport has
done with Singapore Airlines to introduce increased airline
capacity over this summer and next, on top of existing regular
daily services; the summer charters from several cities in Japan it
has partnered with Air New Zealand to offer; the summer direct
flights between Christchurch and Perth and the many services
offered by other airlines across hubs on East Coast Australia.
"All these services fit neatly within the Tourism 2025 theme of
growing sustainable air connectivity and Christchurch Airport is
committed to continuing to invest in this area for the benefit of
Christchurch, Canterbury, the South Island and New Zealand," he
says.
"There is no 'reserved sign' on a share of these opportunities
for the South Island and it is important each South Island tourism
operator proactively finds a way to contribute to one part of
another of Tourism 2025, and help us all claim our share of this
growth story. Others will if we don't!
"We commend the work done to establish Tourism 2025 and, in
particular, the work Martin Snedden has done to bring the key
tourism operators together across the whole of New Zealand. We are
committed to working with these operators as partners, to grow
tourism in New Zealand and ensure the South Island is part of this
exciting growth story."
