A group of Kiwis agents got to explore Tasmania, as the state’s tourism organisation highlights the key role agents play in selling Tasmania travel. 
Around 30% of Kiwi travellers to Australia still book via the trade distribution— and New Zealand visitors to Tasmania reached 20,400 in the year ending Sep, spending AUD35 million over that period. This, says Tourism Tasmania, makes New Zealand an important source market, and the STO is looking to continue working with trade partners to showcase the depth and diversity of its offering, and this includes famils.
“Tasmania is such a unique destination, but not yet widely known or perhaps fully understood by Kiwis,” it says. “We’re definitely seeing increasing interest in Tasmania from agents and will continue to work with them to ensure they have the knowledge and contacts to convert business.”
Highlights for the five Kiwi agents on the Aussie Specialist famil included an Aqua Express cruise to Wineglass Bay with Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, a circumnavigation cruise with Maria Island Cruises, breakfast at the MONA and the wineries of Frogmore Creek and Craigie Knowe.
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James Sanders from World Travellers Motueka was on the famil, and he says he’s itching to get back already, adding that it was the private tour of the Old Kempton Distillery that was a highlight for him.
Agents also checked out the newly- renovated exclusive lodge on Picnic Island and attended a networking event with local operators.
Having experienced the destination for himself, Sanders adds he can see how easy self-drive packages are to put together. “With the Air New Zealand flights, you can easily do five-day, seven-day or 10-day loops depending on how many regions you wanted to visit.” The famil was supported by Tourism Tasmania, Air New Zealand and Tourism Australia. Pictured: At Wineglass Bay on Freycinet Peninsula is World Travellers Motueka’s James Sanders, Stacey Leitch from NZTB, Tourism Tasmania’s Jacob Fisher and Sandra Brady, Jemma Vinsen from 360edge, Tourism Australia’s Daniel Wright, Mitchell Holland from HCB Travel and Felicity Rumble from Travel Encounters.
