Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand’s tourism industry has maintained its steady growth in Indian visitors. According to Angela Blair, GM International, Tourism New Zealand, the growth trend is expected to continue. New Zealand offers a variety of travel experiences for families, couples, and adventure seekers from India. Simultaneously, the board works closely with Indian travel agents and tour operators to promote the country as a travel destination. The country has also implemented safety measures to ensure a safe and healthy travel experience for Indian tourists.
– Vartik Sethi
Tourism New Zealand saw steady growth in Indian visitors even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Angela Blair, GM International, Tourism New Zealand, the country experienced a strong growth trajectory over the past five pre-COVID years. From 2015 to 2019, the number of Indian visitors to New Zealand doubled. This growth has been consistent for the past two decades, as people have learned about the beauty of New Zealand through films, cricket, Bollywood movies, and the country’s excellent educational offerings. Blair is optimistic that this trend will continue, in the years to come, “we doubled the visitors from India, it’s a continuation in the past 20 years in India, the growth has just continued,” she added.
The destination is committed to catering to the unique needs and preferences of Indian tourists. For example, in most cosmopolitan cities, many Indian restaurants offer different types of cuisine. There are also plenty of vegetarian options available for visitors outside the cities, as New Zealand has a large vegetarian population. From a language point of view, Tourism New Zealand largely caters to tourists to the urban English-speaking population from India. However, the industry adapts to the strong language needs of foreign markets such as Japan and China by offering tours with guides who speak those languages.
New Zealand offers a wide variety of travel experiences for families, couples, and adventure seekers from India. Blair shared, “We pretty much have visitors from everywhere, as our iconic activity is trekking.” While New Zealand is known for its beautiful landscapes, there are plenty of activities beyond picturesque landscapes. High-end retreats cater to honeymooners, and family-friendly activities like dolphin watching are available. Adventure seekers can enjoy activities such as bungee jumping and heli-skiing.
The visa process for Indian tourists traveling to New Zealand is relatively straightforward. Blair recommends applying for a visa online as early as possible. According to Blair, pre-COVID, the process was relatively fast, but at the moment, it takes about 20 days for the process to culminate. While there are currently no direct flights from India to New Zealand, Blair shared that the destination is in talks to have a direct flight and is working to create more flight connections that will make it easier for Indian tourists to access New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand works closely with Indian travel agents and tour operators to promote New Zealand as a travel destination. Through targeted campaigns such as “If You Seek,” Tourism New Zealand aims to showcase New Zealand as an extraordinary travel destination. These campaigns are tailored to suit individual trade partners and their specific needs.
The country responded proactively to the COVID-19 pandemic, and safety measures are in place to ensure the safety of Indian tourists traveling to New Zealand. Recollecting New Zealand’s quick recovery, Blair said, “We opened up to Australia when COVID was still globally present with new variants.” There is easy access to COVID-19 tests upon arrival, and while mask mandates have been lifted, many travellers continue to wear masks. Hygiene remains a top priority for Tourism New Zealand, and the country continues to take necessary measures to ensure a safe and healthy travel experience.
On being asked to speak about one common misconception an average Indian traveller might have, Blair said, “Probably the only misconception is that it’s only beautiful mountains and landscape but the truth is there are so many different kinds of activities.” On the contrary, New Zealand offers a wide variety of activities beyond this, including eco-tourism and sustainable travel. She also highlighted an innovative EcoZip activity that involves ziplining and giving back to the environment by planting seeds or a tree at the end of the zipline.
New Zealand is a unique travel destination for Indian tourists due to its beautiful landscapes and wide variety of activities. Some lesser-known hidden gems in New Zealand include beautiful out-of-the-way beaches, where visitors can see dolphins and hire surfboards. There are cute little cafes in Auckland alongside the beaches, Blair also recommends exploring the fantastic wineries in Marlborough. For those who wish to experience New Zealand like the locals, Blair recommends exploring the beaches, “If you talk to the locals you’ll know that there are really beautiful out-of-the-way beaches,” said Blair.
Tourism New Zealand works closely with Indian travel agents and tour operators to promote New Zealand as a travel destination, and the visa process is relatively straightforward. The country also offers a variety of activities beyond picturesque landscapes, including luxury experiences, eco-tourism, and sustainable travel. With its unique natural beauty and hidden gems, New Zealand is a perfect travel destination for Indian tourists seeking adventure, relaxation, and new experiences.
