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$5 million to attract Aussies - stuff.co.nz
A $5 million dollar tourism teaser for Australians aims to keep New Zealand competitive in the face of the best international travel deals Australians have seen.
The Government has given Tourism New Zealand an urgently requested $2.5m just as the marketing money was about to run out. Air New Zealand has matched the deal with a $2.5m promotional campaign aimed at giving away $2m worth of domestic travel for Australians to tack on to trans-Tasman holiday bookings.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said without the money Australian advertising would have stopped in April.
"We would have been out of the market, relying on the carry-over. Given the importance of Australia to our tourism industry, we put the case that it was crucial to get this money," he said.
"More importantly it has come through in time to use it."
With a lack of forward bookings for the autumn and winter seasons, Tourism New Zealand asked for the extra cash last year.
The money will pay for continuing the "What's On" television advertising campaign for the autumn and winter seasonal markets. More on stuff.co.nz
