Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key is welcoming participants in the inaugural NZPGA Pro-Am Championship tournament in Queenstown this week.
The event, which is now being run by a partnership between the NZPGA, Sir Michael Hill and The Hills Golf Course, has received $500,000 from the Government’s Major Events Development Fund.
132 professionals will play for [...]

The opening of a new $10.5 million high-tech water ride in Rotorua is a further commitment to the local economy and an investment in New Zealand tourism, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says.
Mr Joyce today opened the “Big Splash” ride at Rainbow Springs conservation park developed by Ngai Tahu Tourism. Around 300 people were involved [...]

The New Zealand Herald Thursday reported that multi-millionaire Auckland investor John Sax revealed he had swooped on the troubled Kinloch golf course west of Taupo, where he will develop a new tourist lodge and a luxury housing estate.
Sax, who two years ago picked up Orewa’s partially developed $500 million Kensington Park from Patrick Fontein’s Kensington [...]

According to Stuff New Zealand, an unknown buyer is expected to finalize a deal for the acquisition of Kingston Flyer this week. Kingston Acquisitions, which ran tourist trips in the train (Kingston Flyer), went into receivership in November 2009, owing Prudential at least $4.7million.
Since then, the engine, station and part of the historic railway have [...]

Auckland Airport Friday announced a $1 million investment into initiatives which will focus on the attraction and growth of affluent visitors from high-value markets.
Glenn Wedlock, General Manager Aeronautical Business Development for Auckland Airport, said the rapidly growing number of affluent visitor markets represents a massive economic opportunity for New Zealand.
Auckland Airport’s new commitment will focus [...]

The NZPA reported that Ballylinch LP, a company associated with Switzerland-based businessman John Sheffield Grace, Monday dispatched its partial takeover bid for Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL), a leader in the crucial New Zealand tourism industry.
However, Ballylinch said it won’t lift its bid to buy the controlling stake in Tourism Holdings. According to Stuff New Zealand, [...]

Investment firm Ballylinch LP last week acquired 19.1 per cent of Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL) from U.S. funds Sterling Grace Capital Management, Field Nominees, John Grace and Sterling Grace International for $17.2 million. The partial takeover offer gives Ballylinch LP control of New Zealand’s biggest campervan rental firm.
John Grace is also the sole director of [...]

Chinese airline China South Airlines is to spent an estimated $10 million promoting New Zealand as a tourism destination, reported the New Zealand Herald. According to the Herald, China south Airlines will spend the money in the coming weeks encouraging Chinese tourists to visit New Zealand. The Herald quoted an Auckland Airport spokesman stating the [...]

A new air link between China and New Zealand may potentially enhance tourist spending by up to $50 million per annum. From early 2012, China Southern Airlines is to launch thrice weekly services that will see the firm operate flights from Guangzhou, China to Auckland Airport. Guangzhou city is located in Southern China and is [...]

A Maori design network has agreed on a deal that will see it partake of the $1.5 billion tourism spend projected during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The New Zealand design network has agreed on a deal with an international French retail powerhouse. The deal will see the Maori design network pitch its products to [...]