Auckland Airport announces Tourism Asia Marketing Fund

Media Release
21 June 2012

Auckland Airport announces Tourism Asia Marketing Fund
Springboard to help foster innovation and development within the sector

In a move to help innovative New Zealand tourism operators develop business from Asia, Auckland Airport is launching a ‘Tourism Asia Marketing Fund’ as part of its Ambition 2020 initiative and is calling for submissions.

The best submission will receive $25,000 in marketing support and business development assistance – including a development trip to Asia with Auckland Airport.

Judged by members of Auckland Airport’s Aeronautical Commercial team, the prize will be allocated to the business that puts forward the best Asia marketing/business strategy. The judges will be looking for companies that have viable marketing strategies, strong forward planning, can demonstrate innovation and an understanding of the target market and that are either taking a multi-channel approach or in-depth thinking in one channel.

“In response to the Ambition 2020 targets we’ve developed, it is clear the best ideas come from those who work within the industry every day – and we want to help advance the development of those ideas,” says Glenn Wedlock, Auckland Airport’s General Manager Aeronautical Commercial.

“Supporting the industry to innovate, grow and develop new key Asian markets is key to both achieving our ambitions and driving the expansion of our economy. The New Zealand tourism sector has shown outstanding innovation and we’re backing them in continuing to do so.”

The fund announcement comes at the conclusion of a series of Auckland Airport ‘LET’S GET READY’ China workshops with TravConsult, which saw strong attendance and enthusiasm from operators to develop their products and services to better reach and attract Asian travellers.

International customer service and tourism development specialist, Trevor Lee of TravConsult, supports the move to give local tourism operators a boost to their marketing and business development efforts in Asia.

“The economic potential of developing these markets is enormous to any business, and it’s tremendous to see businesses like Auckland Airport supporting their own tourism sector in this way. Innovation, good business sense and a clear understanding of the culture are vital to succeeding in these regions – the prospective gains are huge if it is done well.”
The competition is a continuation of Auckland Airport’s Ambition 20201 initiative to grow key markets, and the airport plans to continue working with local tourism operators to achieve greater value from visitors to New Zealand.

Recently, Auckland Airport has launched new China (www.xindaohualv.com) and Indonesia (www.luxury.co.id) online travel portals, after hosting high-profile travellers in New Zealand to promote what we can offer people in their home countries.

Written submissions in the Auckland Airport Tourism Marketing Fund must be a maximum of 1,000 words and provide a 12 month marketing/business strategy for the Asia region in regards to their business, which is able to be rolled out in the next 12 months.

Open to all New Zealand based tourism operators; the competition will be launched at an event in Queenstown following the final ‘‘LET’S GET READY’ Workshop, at 5:30pm, 22 June 2012. The submission deadline is 5:00pm, 20 July 2012 with the winner announced 30 July 2012.

The prize includes a trip for one person to travel (including business return flights, accommodation and meals) with an Auckland Airport delegation to the Asia region, and $15,000 worth of marketing support.

For further information about the competition, as well as the full terms & conditions, email: bestasiastrategy@aucklandairport.co.nz

ENDS

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