National park fees for foreigners scoped

Overseas visitors could face new charges to visit national parks. Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says the work is underway to look at ways of extending charging of foreign visitors to national parks.

About 3.2 million visitors come from overseas a year and of those on holiday here about half go to national parks, the minister said at the Trenz travel event in Rotorua.  "As those numbers grow you can see increased pressure," she said. Read more here.

Early Easter boosts guest nights 

National guest nights for March 2016 were 12.3 percent higher than in March 2015, Statistics New Zealand said this week.

"Guest nights for March were boosted by an early Easter and increased visitor arrivals, and are the highest recorded for any March month," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "Easter this year was in March, whereas last year it was in April. Guest nights have been rising for the last two years."

For March 2016, compared with March 2015:

• North Island guest nights were up 10.4 percent, and South Island guest nights were up 14.8 percent.
• Domestic guest nights were up 11.5 percent, and international guest nights were up 13.2 percent.
• All 12 regional areas had more guest nights.
• All four accommodation types, particularly holiday parks, had more guest nights. Read more here.

An Irishwoman who has never been to NZ but is mad about te reo

Living in Ireland, Aoife​ had never heard te reo. Now, she's writing her PhD about the language.

Aoife Finn describes herself as "a bit of an anomaly". She lives in Dundalk​, an hour out of Dublin, and has never visited New Zealand. Yet Finn has spent six years studying the Māori language.

Why? "I just think it's a really interesting language, it's great," said Finn. She discovered the language in a Trinity College library, while working on a linguistics assignment. Read more here.

Dairy industry needs to 'pay back' tourism

The dairy industry needs to pay back the tourism industry by adopting leading sustainability practices on the farm, according to University of Auckland Business School senior lecturer Dr Mike Lee.

Tourism recently overtook dairy as New Zealand's largest export earner but Lee, from the university's marketing department, says the two industries have an odd, yet symbiotic relationship.

"Tourism has become recognised as a big industry and the benefits it bestows on the country have a direct effect on dairy," he says. "Our visitors enjoy the best parts of our country and carry away an impression that has a direct effect on exports. Read more here.

Learn more about China FITs

A series of free regional workshops are being organised by MBIE for tourism operators to learn more about the research on China FITs and how they can apply the findings to add value to their businesses. Find out more and register here

$18 million transformation for Te Puia

Major new developments at one of New Zealand's oldest tourism destinations are set to transform Te Puia/New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute after a significant investment was announced today.

According to officials, the developments will transform the organisation, enrich the visitor experience and support the teaching of Māori culture. Read more here.

You need more Kiwis in tourism

The operator of an agency bringing rich American tourists to New Zealand says the lack of Kiwis working in tourism here could harm the industry.

"The Americans want to come down and talk to the Kiwis and befriend them. A lot of properties and more so the tour experiences are employing a lot of people who relate to other markets rather than the Kiwi or American market. "They're coming down and saying they didn't meet a New Zealander. It's a shame." Read more here.

Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards

To enter, click here to find entry forms.  If you know travel writers, travel photographers or those aspiring to become a travel writer or photographer please pass on the details to them.

The deadline for entering is Friday 17 June 2016. Winners will be announced at the awards presentation gala evening on Friday, 19 August 2016 at the Heritage Hotel, Auckland.