- Hon Louise Upston
The 'Everyone Must Go' campaign encouraging Australians to pick New Zealand for their next holiday has hit its results out of the park, bringing in thousands of visitors in a boost for regional economies and tourism operators.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says 'Everyone Must Go' was initially targeted at 6,750 additional arrivals over the autumn but ended up significantly exceeding expectations.
"'Everyone Must Go' has been a winner,'" Louise Upston says.
"Tourism NZ stats released to me show it delivering an additional 7,981 visitors to smash its initial forecasts. It also attracted significant attention on both sides of the Tasman, and got Kiwis and Aussies talking about New Zealand as a destination.
"Tourism is a key part of our plan to grow the economy, create jobs, lift wages and help Kiwis get ahead. 'Everyone Must Go' is a great example of the sector and Government working together to achieve these goals.
"We knew Aussies would recognise it as a great opportunity. Just like they grabbed Phar Lap and pavlova, it's proved the same story with 'Everyone Must Go.'
"A key part of this campaign's success were the deals the tourism industry came to the party with. This team approach showed we can deliver great results for the sector when Government and industry are joined up and working towards the same goals."
More than 800 deals from 450 operators across accommodation, transport and experiences were available during the campaign.
The initial $500,000 campaign spend delivered a solid return on investment, leading to an additional $300,000 to give the campaign a further boost.
"This campaign was the first Tourism Boost initiative, and these positive results show that with the right investment in the right markets we will drive economic growth.
"Every one of those Australian visitors who ate at cafes and restaurants, visited tourist attractions and shopped in our towns and cities has helped the New Zealand tourism sector grow, and boosted the Kiwi economy in the process," Louise Upston says.
