For Immediate Release

27 October 2010

Tourism New Zealand Delighted at Hobbit decision

Tourism New Zealand is delighted to hear that filming of The Hobbit is to go ahead in New Zealand.

General Manager Public Affairs Suzanne Carter said it was great news for New Zealand and New Zealand’s tourism industry that The Hobbit would be filmed here.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of these negotiations. The Hobbit provides us with another great opportunity to promote New Zealand to the world in a unique way and to raise awareness of New Zealand as a visitor destination.

“The Lord of the Rings films presented New Zealand to the world in a truly spectacular way. From a tourism perspective the flow on effects of these films reach communities across the country with visitors coming to enjoy our unique scenery and lifestyle and using our tourism services as they travel.

“People are still travelling to New Zealand today because of the exposure gained through the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit will provide another much-needed boost to our multi-billion dollar tourism industry.”

The Hobbit is a prequel to Peter Jackson’s highly successful trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, which premiered in New Zealand in 2001, 2002 and 2003. All three Lord of the Rings films were filmed in New Zealand.

Figures out today show that in the year to March 2010, tourism was New Zealand’s biggest foreign money earner outstripping the diary sector as New Zealand’s top export earner worth $9.5 billion.

“As with the Lord of the Rings triology, Tourism New Zealand will be looking at every opportunity to leverage the profile of The Hobbit to promote New Zealand,” Suzanne Carter said.

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