Memphis Tourism is urging Kiwis to keep travelling to the destination, highlighting that not only is it still safe, but there is so much on offer.
Chris Ingram, Memphis Tourism’s director Australia and New Zealand, says while the destination has seen a drop in Kiwi numbers over the past year, in line with the US overall, the interest is still there led by the fact that people are looking beyond the ‘gateways’.
“People are still wanting to connect with authentic experiences and authentic places in America,” he adds.
Demand for groups remains, specifically for those 50+, with a group of 18 heading to the destination shortly. Ingram’s message to agents who have clients interested in Memphis but who are wary with everything going on, is that America is still open for business and full of good people.
“It’s still a great place to go, and there’s still great experiences to be had and great events to attend.”
Ingram points to the upcoming FIFA World Cup which New Zealand is competing in, and he highly recommends that agents with clients attending a match add on three days in a city such as Memphis. “Memphis makes a really, really great destination for a two- or three-night stay,” he says. “And don’t forget to tag it on to another music city like Nashville, or even Mississippi, or Arkansas.”
He adds that Memphis, being home to attractions such as Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio and Stax Museum, offers insight into the ‘fabric of what the American story really is’.
. . . Catch Up
Memphis Tourism is active in the New Zealand market for 2026. “We are working in collaboration with Delta on a famil initiative, which leaves these shores in Apr, but over and above that Memphis is hugely supportive of trade who do want to head there on their own,” says Ingram.
“Memphis just very much embraces any trade that head there because we know they are going to have a great time, and we know that having done that they can come back and actually sell our destination.”
“Over and above that, you’ll prob ably find most destinations, if not all, will be hugely supportive of trade and with famil opportunities outside of anything that people may win.” See more on Memphis HERE, and find more on the current agent incentive HERE.
