Strong Business Links Increase Travel To UK

Media Release: 14 December 2004

STRONG BUSINESS LINKS INCREASE TRAVEL TO UK

A strong demand for UK consumables and luxury goods are just one of the factors behind a huge increase in Kiwi business travellers to the mother country, said a leading business travel company.

Sales and marketing manager for FCm Travel Solutions Greg Hamilton said departure statistics recently released by Asmal, showing a 22 per cent increase in business travel to the UK by Kiwis over the last year is no surprise, as business links grow ever stronger.

“We have seen a number of business clients increase their travel to the UK as their trade links have strengthened in the last few years,” he said.

A consistently strong New Zealand dollar and an increase in UK exports are just some of the factors behind the surge, as businesses show a resurgence in trade to the UK, he said.

Recent figures for the year to November 30 showed the value of UK exports to New Zealand was up 17 per cent, making New Zealanders the highest consumers of UK food and drink per capita.

Mr Hamilton said more airlines flying between the UK and New Zealand and increasingly competitive airfares were also factors, as they made travel to the UK more viable.

“We have noticed many of our clients either start travelling to the UK or if they currently travel there, they are travelling more frequently,” he said.

“The South Island, especially, has seen an increase, as the explosion of airlines flying out of Christchurch has made it far easier and cheaper to travel.”

ENDS

FCm Travel Solutions is the corporate division of the Flight Centre Limited group and the largest business travel group in Australasia, with offices in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, UK, USA and Hong Kong.

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