New Zealand gains three travel awards
20 Oct 2010
New Zealand is basking in glory after receiving three international tourism and travel-related awards in just over one week.
Tourism New Zealand was named 'Australasia's Leading Tourist Board' at the World Travel Awards - considered the ‘Oscars’ of the industry - last week (14.10.2010).
Shortly after, New Zealand was crowned ‘Best Tourism Country Outside Europe’ at the Danish Travel Awards in Copenhagen.
And in the UK, New Zealand has come third in the ‘Favourite Long-Haul Country' category of the UK's Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk Travel Awards 2010.
World Travel Awards
The World Travel Awards, launched in 1993, have been described as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel and tourism industry by the Wall Street Journal, and the 2010 awards attracted an unprecedented 185,000 votes from industry professionals.
The award for 'Australasia's Leading Tourist Board' was presented at a gala awards ceremony at The Claridges Surajkund Hotel on the outskirts of Delhi, India.
Tourism New Zealand's competition in the Australasian tourist board category included fellow finalists South Pacific Tourism, Tahiti Tourisme and last year's winner, Tourism Australia.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said it was an honour to receive the award.
"Tourism is a fiercely competitive industry so it's a real pat on the back for Tourism New Zealand to be recognised internationally for being among the best."
Other New Zealand wins at the 2010 World Travel Awards included:
- Australasia's Leading Airline - Air New Zealand
- Australasia's Leading Boutique Hotel - The George, Christchurch
- Australasia's Leading Destination - Auckland, New Zealand
- Australasia's Leading Golf Resort - Millbrook, Queenstown
- Australasia's Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel - The Langham Hotel Auckland
- Australasia's Leading New Hotel - Hilton Lake Taupo
- Australasia's Leading Ski Resort - The Spire, Queenstown
- Australasia's Responsible Tourism Award - Treetops Lodge & Estate, New Zealand
Danish Travel Awards
New Zealand was also named 'Best Tourism Country Outside Europe' at the Danish Travel Awards in Copenhagen - annual awards run by Danish travel magazine Stand By.
Voting is carried out by around 1500 consumers, 200 travel agents and 30 travel managers.
New Zealand beat runner-up Australia, and Thailand was in third place.
Henrik Baumgarten, editor of Stand By, said it was no surprise that New Zealand had won the popular vote.
"As a huge fan of New Zealand it is easy for me to understand why the Danish consumers have chosen New Zealand as their favourite long haul destination. The country has everything from fantastic landscapes, wonderful citizens, tons of activities to offer, great wine and food."
Favoured long-haul
Meanwhile, at the 2010 UK Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk Travel Awards New Zealand came third in the 'Favourite Long-Haul Country' category.
The Maldives took top spot, and Japan came second.
Air New Zealand was also named second in the best long-haul airline in the world category.
The Travel Awards were the result of surveys which showed readers were continuing to regard holidays as a priority, despite economic difficulties and recent challenges like the Iceland volcanic ash cloud.
Guardian readers take a total of 4.8 million holidays a year and Observer readers, 3.6 million. Users of guardian.co.uk take 12.4 million breaks - and all readers reported enjoying visiting far flung and off the beaten track destinations.
Tourism in NZ
Since its foundation in 1991, Tourism New Zealand has helped grow New Zealand tourism into an industry that contributes more than NZ$6 billion annually to the nation's economy.
The tourism industry is now one of New Zealand's largest export industries, second only to the dairy industry in terms of foreign exchange earnings
"Our people work hard to promote New Zealand as a tourist destination and we have had great success in recent years. Our world-beating 100% Pure New Zealand marketing campaign, launched in 1999, has proven remarkably resilient despite the challenges and rapid change faced by the industry over the past decade," Kevin Bowler said.
More information
Lonely Planet travel award
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