Page 10 - Express Travel World

IN THE NEWS

'Our strategyis to sustainablygrow

visitation to the destination'

Kiran Nambiar, business development director, Destination Queenstown speaks about
the multifaceted offerings of Queenstown and his strategy of engaging with the travel
trade in India

By Reema Lokesh

How would you define your
new role as business develop-
ment head of Queenstown vis
a vis the global inbound
travel market?
As the tourism marketing
organisation for an internation-
ally recognised destination, my
role as business development
director will focus on develop-
ing the strategy and strength-
ening relationships in the travel
trade, conferencing and incen-
tive and education industries in Kiran Nambiar
key markets, both international
and domestic, to bring visitors rowtown Autumn Festival (19-
to Queenstown. 25 April) and later in June, the
Real Journeys Queenstown
Under your leadership, Winter Festival (21-24 June)
what's your primary strategy
to push the destination for- India is an emerging market for Queenstown and What are the promotional
ward, both within and strategies you intend to in-
outside NZ ? New Zealand as a whole.As such the strategy for corporate for India and other
Destination Queenstown’s this market alongside others is to encourage the prime countries and regions?
vision is to position Queen- I believe in improving the
stown as the Southern Hemi- Indian travel trade to increase their knowledge of capability of our partners in the
sphere’s premier four season trade, C&I and education by
lake and alpine resort. Our Queenstown.It’s important to note that the peak equipping them with the tools
strategy is to sustainably grow outbound travel time over Indian summer aligns to best sell Queenstown. I look
visitation to the destination by forward to working closely
promoting travel during the perfectly with Queenstown’s autumn with our partners in all mar-
shoulder seasons, and encour- kets to further develop our
aging visitors to stay longer. relationship.
and some of New Zealand’s cosmopolitan and diverse resi- strategy for this market along-
Queenstown is known as the finest dining experiences with dent population. Furthermore, side others is to encourage the What is Queenstown's pres-
adventure capital of the luxury hotels, lodges and private The Queenstown Trail is 120 km Indian travel trade to increase ent turnover and what's the
world. Would you be intro- residences. It’s a popular honey- of undulating trails which form their knowledge of Queen- expected target for 2018-19 ?
ducing some other unique moon destination amongst inter- the basis of Queenstown’s cy- stown. It’s important to note In the year to June 2017 3.2
highlights as well about the national travellers and New cling and walking offering, an- that the peak outbound travel million visitors came to Queen-
region that goes beyond Zealanders for this reason. Our other drawcard for visitors from time over Indian summer stown, and 70 per cent of those
adventure? destination is also known as a all over the world. aligns perfectly with Queen- visitors came from overseas.
Queenstown is renowned as world class wine region, stown’s autumn, a time of year Destination Queenstown’s fo-
the adventure capital of the producing award-winning and Keeping your long standing DQ works to promote as an cus is to sustainably grow
world, and we value this infor- renowned Pinot Noir to comple- and strong connect with the ideal time to visit. Alongside tourism to the region by en-
mal title greatly - however there ment the high quality food offer- India market, would India be the gorgeous autumn colours couraging visitation during the
is so much more to Queenstown! ing available here, including In- treated with a special busi- which give visitors a show, shoulder seasons of autumn
Queenstown’s luxury offering in- dian cuisine, vegetarian options, ness strategy? there are a number of events (April through June) and
corporates exclusive experi- contemporary New Zealand din- India is an emerging market on in Queenstown and the sur- spring (September through
ences such as private helicopter ing and a range of international for Queenstown and New rounding region during this November), and encourage vis-
charters, exclusive activities, options owing to Queenstown’s Zealand as a whole. As such the time, including the Akarua Ar- itors to stay for longer.

10 EXPRESS TRAVELWORLD
February 2018