New flights a boost for Bay tourism

Tauranga will be part of a strong promotion in Sydney to attract Australian visitors from the new international flights to Rotorua Airport.
National carrier Air New Zealand yesterday announced it will be operating two flights a week from Sydney to Rotorua and back - from December 12, with one-way legs from Rotorua starting at $209.
Tourism Bay of Plenty, which represents the Western Bay region, has joined other central North Island regional tourism organisations and Rotorua Airport to start a direct consumer campaign in Sydney and surrounding areas in New South Wales.
"Some of our attractions are closer to Rotorua Airport than others on the southern side (towards Taupo)," said Tim Burgess, general manager of Tourism Bay of Plenty.
"We are well positioned and it gives us a huge opportunity to tap into the flow of visitors. We've always been working with Rotorua and we are thrilled that the announcement (of the new flights).
"It's the national carrier and it gives the planning instant credibility," he said.
More than 200,000 Australians visit Rotorua each year, estimated to increase to 260,000 by 2014, and nearly 80,000 of them go to the Western Bay.
Rotorua Airport chairman Neil Oppatt predicted the transtasman flights would contribute up to $12 million to the local economy over time. Air New Zealand will fly A320 aircrafts from Sydney to Rotorua, operating on a Saturday-Monday service initially and then moving to Saturday-Tuesday from February.
The regional tourism organisations are now looking at rebranding the Great New Zealand Touring Route (combining Pacific Coast and Thermal Explorer Highways) that takes in Coromandel, Western Bay, Whakatane, Rotorua, Taupo, Hawke's Bay and Waitomo.
The group, led by Rotorua Airport, have hired a market research company in Sydney to test the new brand on prospective Australian visitors, and a new tourism campaign will start later this year.
The campaign will be directed towards independent travellers interested in different activities.
The campaign for Western Bay will highlight fishing and other water adventures such as glow worm kayaking on Lake McLaren, golfing, hot pools from Athenree to Welcome Bay and Mount Maunganui, and short walks, particularly around Mauao.
Mr Burgess said leading attractions such as Spring Loaded Fun Park, Comvita Visitor Centre and Kiwi 360 were only a half-hour drive from Rotorua Airport.
Local tourism operators have the chance to be involved with packages organised by Air New Zealand Holidays, which take a commission on sales - they could include Hotel on Devonport, Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel and apartment complexes on the Mount.
Tourism Bay of Plenty is also working with Hamilton Airport on a consumer campaign in Australia on the back of new thrice-weekly Pacific Blue flights into Sydney and Brisbane and onwards, starting during the first week of September.
The agency will that week host a group of Blue Holidays travel agents in Tauranga, showing off the region's visitor delights.
Local operators can also become involved with Blue Holidays travel packages.
gives us a huge opportunity to tap into the flow of visitors. We've always been working with Rotorua and we are thrilled that the announcement (of the new flights).
"It's the national carrier and it gives the planning instant credibility," he said.
More than 200,000 Australians visit Rotorua each year, estimated to increase to 260,000 by 2014, and nearly 80,000 of them go to the Western Bay.
Rotorua Airport chairman Neil Oppatt predicted the transtasman flights would contribute up to $12 million to the local economy over time. Air New Zealand will fly A320 aircrafts from Sydney to Rotorua, operating on a Saturday-Monday service initially and then moving to Saturday-Tuesday from February.
The regional tourism organisations are now looking at rebranding the Great New Zealand Touring Route (combining Pacific Coast and Thermal Explorer Highways) that takes in Coromandel, Western Bay, Whakatane, Rotorua, Taupo, Hawke's Bay and Waitomo.
The group, led by Rotorua Airport, have hired a market research company in Sydney to test the new brand on prospective Australian visitors, and a new tourism campaign will start later this year.
The campaign will be directed towards independent travellers interested in different activities.
The campaign for Western Bay will highlight fishing and other water adventures such as glow worm kayaking on Lake McLaren, golfing, hot pools from Athenree to Welcome Bay and Mount Maunganui, and short walks, particularly around Mauao.
Mr Burgess said leading attractions such as Spring Loaded Fun Park, Comvita Visitor Centre and Kiwi 360 were only a half-hour drive from Rotorua Airport.
Local tourism operators have the chance to be involved with packages organised by Air New Zealand Holidays, which take a commission on sales - they could include Hotel on Devonport, Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel and apartment complexes on the Mount.
Tourism Bay of Plenty is also working with Hamilton Airport on a consumer campaign in Australia on the back of new thrice-weekly Pacific Blue flights into Sydney and Brisbane and onwards, starting during the first week of September.
The agency will that week host a group of Blue Holidays travel agents in Tauranga, showing off the region's visitor delights.
Local operators can also become involved with Blue Holidays travel packages.