CLUTHA COUNTRY REPRESENTED AT TOURISM SHOWCASE
Clutha Country Media Release
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Clutha Country represented at Tourism Showcase
Clutha Country is already beginning to reap the benefits of representing itself to over 100 New Zealand inbound tourism operators at a trade day and showcase in Auckland recently.
Joanna Lowrey and Kim Dodds represented the district at the Dunedin, Southland and Waitaki Trade Day on Thursday 2 August.
They marketed Clutha Country directly to inbound tour operators – companies that arrange tours and travel arrangements in New Zealand for tourists coming into the country.
Mrs Lowrey, who is part of the Clutha Country Tourism collective and also a district councillor, said it was the first time district had been represented at a trade showcase at this level. It had been a great opportunity to lift the profile of Clutha Country, increase potential numbers of bed nights in the area, and build relationships with product managers.
Already, local operators were starting to reap the benefits, she said.
“We’ve already heard from some local operators that they’ve taken bookings directly as a result of Clutha Country being represented at the trade show,” Mrs Lowrey said. “The media interest and feedback has been incredibly positive, so I believe our attendance has really helped to put Clutha Country tourism on the map.”
Mrs Dodds, who is the Catlins Coast Projects Coordinator, said the Clutha Country stand proved to be extremely popular throughout the day with The Catlins being a destination that many inbound tour operators were keen to know more about.
“I was overwhelmed with the response we received at the event” said Mrs Dodds. “We were certainly popular with back to back meetings all day. Guests of the event were lining up to meet with us. We are the ‘hot’ destination of New Zealand and this was certainly obvious at this event.”
The Clutha District Development Board supported Clutha Country’s presence at the Tourism Showcase with $5,000 funding.
ENDS
For further information/comment, please contact:
Joanna Lowrey
Phone: 027 442 7826
info@garvan.co.nz
Kim Dodds
Phone: 03 415 8954
projects@catlins.org.nz
Photo caption: Kim Dodds, left, and Joanna Lowrey, right, speak to an inbound tourist operator at Clutha Country stand at the Tourism Showcase in Auckland recently