Sunday, 10 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business

Auckland WeChat Chinese tourism app 'timely and important' - expert

Lincoln Tan
By
Lincoln Tan
2 Mar, 2019 07:44 PM3 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Chinese tourists in Rotorua. Photo / Grant Bradley

Chinese tourists in Rotorua. Photo / Grant Bradley

A tourism expert says an app to be launched on Chinese social media platform WeChat is a "timely and important initiative" to stop the falling visitor numbers from China.

New Zealand was among the destinations in the world with the strongest decrease in arrivals of Chinese package tour groups, those from smaller cities and those above 50 years of age, according to a China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI) study.

The app, Auckland's first WeChat city experience guide, claims to be the world's first live-chat function that enables Chinese-speaking residents to share local knowledge and experiences with potential visitors in China.

Grand Park Chinese restaurant, a local Chinese favourite for yum cha lunches. Photo / File
Grand Park Chinese restaurant, a local Chinese favourite for yum cha lunches. Photo / File

The app will also allow users to make payments, order food deliveries and book hotels and flights.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"This is a timely and important initiative. It heightens the ability of Auckland to open up a richer array of experiences for the very important China market," Auckland University of Technology Professor of Tourism and New Zealand Tourism Research Institute director
Simon Milne said.

"This approach reflects the ongoing focus of visitors on wanting to 'get local' and to understand more authentic dimensions of urban visitor experiences," Milne said.

"It also reflects the desire of visitors to hear from locals what are the best things to do, rather than simply relying on corporate advertising."

Avondale Sunday market, a local favourite for fresh produce shopping. Photo / File
Avondale Sunday market, a local favourite for fresh produce shopping. Photo / File

The app was developed by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) to target the China market.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

ATEED general manager Steve Armitage said Auckland was the first destination within the network to use locals as advocates to relay visitor information in a real time, live chat environment.

"China is New Zealand's second-largest visitor market, and for Auckland, Chinese visitors are the highest spenders in the visitor economy, contributing more than $960 million in tourism spend annually," Armitage said.

"Auckland is also home to more than 113,000 people who identify as Chinese."

Armitage said the new WeChat mini programme provided a platform for Auckland's Chinese community to share their local knowledge with friends and family back in China.

Related articles

Business

NZ/China relationship: 'We have a big problem'

13 Feb 05:14 AM
Business

Explainer: Why NZ can't afford to mess with China

15 Feb 04:56 AM
Business

NZ risks own goal over China tourism - industry leader

14 Feb 10:18 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Last minute no-shows: Chinese chill hits NZ schools as students bow out

17 Feb 04:00 PM

More than 300 people have signed up as advocates during the Auckland Lantern Festival.

ATEED said the app would be launched to the mass Chinese market once a local pool of advocates was established and up and running.

Milne said this type of approach had proven to be very successful around the world, not just for the Chinese market.

"We have seen a growth in websites and related apps such as 'spotted by locals' and the 'global greeter network'," he said.

"But NZ remains unrepresented. This initiative by ATEED for the China market is an important step towards filling this particular gap."

The NZ China Travel and Tourism Association welcomed the idea of the new tourism app.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It would make travellers from China feel warm and welcome when they know they can connect with the locals easily," association chair Simon Cheung said.

COTRI director Prof Wolfgang Georg Arlt said long-distance destinations, like New Zealand, would have to increase their efforts to attract Chinese visitors.

After positive results from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the second quarter of 2018, there was low-level growth in the third quarter which finally turned into negative reading for the last quarter, according to COTRI analytics.

The last quarter of 2018 reflected the cooling down of relations between the governments of China and NZ, according to the institute.

The fall of the exchange rate of the NZ dollar against the RMB did not help, the institute said, and it was unclear if the rumours that the Chinese government had recommended to Chinese tour operators not to offer tours to NZ any more were to be believed.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
Business

The remarkable David Lomas: TV star opens up on reuniting families, love and surviving a fatal air crash with Paul Holmes

10 Dec 06:13 AM
Premium
Business

Opinion: Central banks and the return of the unreliable boyfriend

10 Dec 05:00 AM
Premium
Business

Debt hangover? More Kiwis plan to put Christmas on the plastic

10 Dec 02:00 AM
Premium
Business

Global pre-Christmas trade at risk due to twin canal crises

10 Dec 01:29 AM

More houses coming

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Business

Premium
The remarkable David Lomas: TV star opens up on reuniting families, love and surviving a fatal air crash with Paul Holmes

The remarkable David Lomas: TV star opens up on reuniting families, love and surviving a fatal air crash with Paul Holmes

10 Dec 06:13 AM

How a top investigative journalist has created some of TV's most emotional moments.

Premium
Opinion: Central banks and the return of the unreliable boyfriend

Opinion: Central banks and the return of the unreliable boyfriend

10 Dec 05:00 AM
Premium
Debt hangover? More Kiwis plan to put Christmas on the plastic

Debt hangover? More Kiwis plan to put Christmas on the plastic

10 Dec 02:00 AM
Premium
Global pre-Christmas trade at risk due to twin canal crises

Global pre-Christmas trade at risk due to twin canal crises

10 Dec 01:29 AM
Kiwi’s business dream a global winner
sponsored

Kiwi’s business dream a global winner

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP