While the rhetoric surrounding travel to the US has been somewhat mixed as of late, this is not the case for Los Angeles, with New Zealanders’ love for the city showing no signs of slowing down.
Last year, more than 76,000 Kiwis visited the City of Angels, according to Tourism Economics, and this is predicted to grow 6.2% this year to an estimated 81,000.
Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board regional vp Asia Pacific Craig Gibbons attributes this to factors including direct and affordable flights from Air New Zealand, American, Delta and United, as well as one-stop services from Qantas, Fiji Airways and Air Tahiti Nui.
“With so many airlines servicing LAX, this increased competition ensures prices are competitive and affordable.”
It’s also a year-round destination, and Gibbons adds the close proximity of its beaches, hiking trails, nature reserves, desert resort towns and even snowfields appeal to Kiwis’ sense of adventure.
Angelenos and Kiwis both share a love of sport, he adds. The city is home to over 10 professional sports teams playing year-round, and there’s also an appeal in its Hollywood experiences, such as visiting a working Hollywood film studio.
To maintain this momentum, the tourism organisation will focus on its trade relationships, as Gibbons points out Los Angeles Tourism & Conventions Bureau is the only North American CVB that has a dedicated tourism office in the local region.
“We plan to roll out some dedicated webinar training sessions in the coming months to showcase new developments in the city,” he adds. “Plus, stay tuned for news on famils and incentives too.”
His advice for agents to help bolster LA sales, starts with recommending travel in Sep and Jan, when the hotels are at lower capacity and theme parks are less crowded.
Other tips include to base clients in LA, offering access to the city’s key attractions, while those who want to stay in Anaheim are urged to make use of the Karmel Connect.
Gibbons also points out that Kiwi travellers entering LAX with an ESTA are eligible to use Mobile Passport Control, this allowing them to submit passport and declaration information digitally. “The dedicated MPC line at LAX helps to reduce wait times without requiring pre-approval or fees.” See more, HERE.
