Auckland tourism leaders hope a new deal with travel agency Flight Centre will attract 20,000 more Australian visitors to the region.
During the past year there were 707,000 arrivals to Auckland from Australia, of which roughly half were holiday visitors and the rest coming to visit friends or relatives and business.
About $17 million is expected to be pumped into the Auckland economy this year as the result of a partnership agreement signed between ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) and Flight Centre, the largest travel agency in Australia and New Zealand.
The agreement signed yesterday builds on a year-long trial, with the agency actively promoting Auckland holiday packages, rather than the city just as an entry point into the country, said agency chief executive Brett O'Riley.
"Our aim is to significantly increase the number of Australian visitors to Auckland, as it's our largest tourism market," he said.