FOLLOWING a successful run with Asian incentive arrivals, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) is stepping up efforts to grow MICE business from South-east Asia by employing a new business events manager who will promote the destination through industry tradeshows and familiarisation trips out of his office in Singapore.
Taking on this responsibility is Edward Kwek who will help the tourism bureau grow arrivals from Thailand by five per cent this financial year, said Steven Dixon, TNZ’s regional manager South and South East Asia.
Dixon pointed out that Thailand is a “recognisable market” and business from incentive travels is growing, although numbers are “under-reported”.
To encourage more Thai business event planners choose New Zealand, TNZ will build on its existing relationship with key industry partners, including New Zealand Immigration and airlines to improve visa approval processes for Thai travellers.
Dixon noted that there are currently three preferred agents in Thailand and they enjoy faster visa processing privileges.
Editor’s Note: A correction has been made to this story. The first version had reported that the search for a South-east Asia business events manager was still on. That was a mistake.
