Air New Zealand, Air China, Tourism NZ team up to drive Chinese tourists to NZ
Air New Zealand has announced plans to collaborate with Air China and Tourism New Zealand in order to drive more Chinese tourists to visit New Zealand.
Over the next 12 months, the New Zealand flag carrier will invest more than NZD 700,000 ($419,000) in marketing through strategic partnerships.
China is New Zealand’s third largest source of international visitors, comprising around 8% of total visitor arrivals. In the year to March 2025, 248,000 Chinese travellers visited New Zealand, up 18% from 2024.
“China is an incredibly important market for us, and we’re proud of the role our Shanghai service has played in connecting people, cargo, and cultures over the past decade. This joint investment is an opportunity to further stimulate travel demand to encourage growth in inbound tourism from China to New Zealand,” Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Greg Foran said.
“We’re looking forward to having our brand-new cabins on our 787 aircraft flying to Shanghai on occasion, offering Chinese customers the opportunity to be among the first to experience our enhanced onboard experience. From October, we’ll see a 33% increase in premium seats on the Shanghai–Auckland route, giving customers even more opportunity to travel with additional space and comfort to New Zealand,” Foran added.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said: “This partnership between Air New Zealand, Air China, and Tourism New Zealand is another step toward turbocharging New Zealand’s tourism recovery and growth. As we work to rebuild our visitor economy, stimulating demand from key markets like China, which was our largest inbound tourism market pre-Covid, is essential to creating jobs, supporting businesses, and strengthening communities across the country.”
Luxon added: “This strategic investment will not only boost awareness of Aotearoa as a unique and welcoming destination but also deepen the connections between our peoples and cultures. We are committed to backing initiatives that bring more visitors here, ensuring tourism continues to be a driver of prosperity for all New Zealanders.”
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Air New Zealand has announced plans to collaborate with Air China and Tourism New Zealand in order to…
The post Air New Zealand, Air China, Tourism NZ team up to drive Chinese tourists to NZ appeared first on AeroTime.
