Queenstown to welcome 10,000 Chinese incentive guests

Amway China will be sending 10,000 of its elite salespeople to Queenstown in 2018, bringing incentive business worth at least NZ$50m (US$34.12m) to the New Zealand economy. The business was secured by Tourism New Zealand and its partners Destination Queenstown, Air New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand. The group will visit in multiple waves of 500 for five-day programmes throughout autumn 2018. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the win would spread visitors across the off-peak season, supporting employment and bringing significant economic benefit: “The $50m in value is estimated just from Amway’s spend on the incentive alone. Each of the 10,000 staff will also contribute additional personal spend while in the country, bringing the total even higher. “The win also sends a clear message that New Zealand is a significant player in the incentive business sector.” Bowler put the win down to a coordinated approach that answered all of Amway’s questions and said Immigration New Zealand had played a pivotal role, as bringing 10,000 Chinese into the country required significant coordination and efficiency in regard to visa processing. Mayor of Queenstown Lakes District Vanessa van Uden added: “We are developing strong links with China through our sister city and commercial relationships with Hangzhou. “We are known as the adventure tourism capital of New Zealand so if Amway’s visitors would like to hurl themselves off a bridge at the end of a bungy cord, or take a swift ride in a jetboat, they will be thrilled with what they find here.” The win was publicly confirmed by the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key at a press briefing in Shanghai. Air New Zealand’s chief executive Christopher Luxon pointed out the importance of attracting high-value incentive business from China to New Zealand during the shoulder season. Photo caption: Tourism New Zealand GM Asia David Craig, President of Amway China Audie Wong, New Zealand prime minister and minister of tourism John Key, and Mayor of Queenstown Vanessa van Ude