With less than six months to go to the kickoff of the Rugby World Cup the official agent for tours from New Zealand says it has a fifth of its allotted packages to sell.
All Blacks Tours says it has sold about 4000 of 5000 packages that range in price from $1100 to just under $35,000 for a 47-night expedition. Joelle Talbot, head of sales, marketing and partnerships for the company, said she was expecting another run on packages now that the rugby season was well under way and sports fans were well clear of the Cricket World Cup.
While the cricket tournament had been a distraction, it had fuelled interest in following successful New Zealand sports teams, she said. The high dollar against the euro wouldn't have a direct impact on the packages her company was booking - they were paid for in British pounds - but would make touring in Europe more affordable if the kiwi stays strong.
Of those who had booked about 60 per cent were male, the youngest of whom was a 7-year-old boy and the oldest an 88-year-old man.
The 19-day tour led by former coach Sir Graham Henry that took in the quarter-finals, semis and final was so far proving more popular than that led by 2011 penalty goal kick hero Stephen Donald who is arriving later in the tournament. Talbot said the downturn in dairy prices didn't seem to have dampened demand among farmers. Packages went on sale early last year, before the dairy price tumbled. For many fans the cup was a "bucket list" experience and they would find ways of paying for it no matter what.
