Destination Queenstown

A joint marketing campaign by Air New Zealand, Destination Queenstown and Queenstown Airport is telling Aucklanders and people flying into Auckland from overseas they can fly direct to Queenstown almost every two hours this summer.

Marketing and promoting Queenstown to New Zealand and the world will be "business as usual" based on the freshly minted business strategy, new Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd says.

The incumbent marketing general manager of Destination Queenstown has been appointed to the top job of chief executive.

The dramatic natural beauty of Otago is being displayed to the world by The Hobbit, even before a frame is presented in cinemas, and regional tourism chiefs could not be happier.

Queenstown's tourism industry is in "great shape and great heart" after coming through one of the most challenging years on record, departing Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt says.

The Southern Lakes region - including Queenstown, Wanaka and Fiordland - has cracked the Lonely Planet's Top 10 Regions in its Best in Travel 2012, published today, the only New Zealand region to feature in the new book.

It's been a stormy 10 months so far. In this week's Wakatipu Echo, Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt says the forecast for summer is for the rain to ease and the sun to appear, but that tourism operators should keep their umbrellas handy, just in case.

People in England and Ireland have been bombarded with glowing reports of Queenstown from players and media representatives attending the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Simon Green has been reappointed as director of the Queenstown Winter Festival but will take on an expanded role of Destination Queenstown events manager.

As hard times hit Europe and the United States, New Zealand tourist operators are being urged to turn their attention to China. But how ready are New Zealanders to deal with such a radical change in culture? Mark Price reports.

The opening of a joint New Zealand immigration and tourism office in Shanghai is a welcome move and will help simplify the process for Chinese tourists wanting to visit the Wakatipu, Destination Queenstown says.

Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt has settled into his role in Queenstown.

As part of Queenstown's celebrations for the Rugby World Cup, 300 nights in Queenstown hotels are to be given away during September and October.