Arrowtown will promote itself to global tourism product buyers and media delegates when it is featured at travel trade expo Trenz for the first time in its own right in May.
Discover Arrowtown will encourage the expected 1000 tourism industry representatives to find out more about and experience the products and services of all commercial ratepayers in the Wakatipu village.
The Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association will host the booth when it sets up shop alongside leading Southern Lakes and New Zealand operators and marketing organisations.
Association chairman Adin May said yesterday Arrowtown businesses would have the opportunity to "dazzle international tourism buyers with the unique opportunities the town has to offer".
Mr May said Arrowtown had matured as a destination, "not only for people to stay, but also for cyclists, walkers, golfers, skiers and people who wanted to enjoy the ambience and historical treasures the town offered.
"Therefore, the businesses representing Arrowtown at Trenz cater for all aspects of international and domestic markets from active to passive."
Mr May said the Discover Arrowtown exhibition booth would be manned daily by Moonlight Stables co-owner Geoff Clear, with representatives from the village's accommodation, retail and heritage sectors on rotation.
Familiarisation trips, or "famils", where delegates were offered the chance to gain first-hand tourism knowledge as guests, would be organised by Discover Arrowtown, Mr May said.
"Our whole focus is to not only encourage buyers and media delegates to Arrowtown, but also show operators currently visiting on bus trips that there is a lot more to Arrowtown, which will encourage them to stay longer than 10 or 20 minutes," Mr May said.
Asked if the Arrowtown push at Trenz was because of dissatisfaction from business owners about their promotion by Destination Queenstown, Mr May said "not at all".
Destination Queenstown had been forthcoming with assistance with Discover Arrowtown and would include the village on its own famils.
Having Trenz in Queenstown, closer than traditional Trenz locations, made the exhibition affordable for the association, he said.
Discover Arrowtown will be one of 27 New Zealand tourism businesses which will make their debut as exhibitors when the travel trade expo is hosted by the Southern Lakes in the Queenstown Events Centre for the second consecutive year on May 7 to 10.
