Gallipoli 2015 Tour Offers
Media Statement
18 December 2013
Gallipoli 2015 Tour Offers
Over the last two weeks a travel company has been promoting tours to Gallipoli and the Anzac Day commemorations in 2015. They were guaranteeing places at the 2015 Gallipoli Anzac Day commemorations regardless of whether their clients had entered the official Gallipoli 2015 ballot. The company has now amended its promotion.
Mr Rick Ottaway, Veterans’ Affairs General Manager, says these advertisements and messages are misleading the public. It is of serious concern that members of the public may take up such offers and then be disappointed when they are unable to attend the commemorations at Gallipoli.
“No attendance passes have been allocated to tour companies. The only way for New Zealanders and Australians to guarantee attendance at the official Gallipoli 2015 commemorations is by obtaining an attendance pass through the official ballot.”
“We have stated this clearly in all our communications regarding the Gallipoli 2015 commemorations” says Mr Ottaway.
The New Zealand ballot for attendance passes is now open and will close on 31 January 2014. For more information about the ballot, visit www.gallipoli2015.govt.nz
The Australian, New Zealand and Turkish governments have agreed to an attendance cap of 10,500 people at the 25 April 2015 commemorations. Australia has been allocated 8000 places and New Zealand 2000 places. A significant number of the remaining 500 places for official representatives have been allocated to Turkey for Turkish government representatives and Turkish veterans of other wars. There will also be places for official representatives from other participants in the Gallipoli campaign.
ENDS