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UK declare – New Zealand is Hot Destination for 2012

As written by Cheap Holiday Deals UKwww.cheapholidaydeals.co.uk

The tiny little nation at the bottom of the world, New Zealand, is set to become very big in the international tourism scene in the coming year. With excellent tourism numbers throughout 2011 and the recent Rugby World Cup, the strong tourism drive towards the Land of the Long White Cloud will help the country grow and recover from the recent series of violent earthquakes in Christchurch.

2011 Tourist Numbers Were Strong

By the end of the year 2011, the tourism numbers visiting New Zealand were very strong. A record number of visitors arrived in December which ended the year 2011 very well and resulted in the first year where visitors topped 2.6 million. The totals for December were up 5.4 percent from the same period last year. Australian arrivals, which are the largest visitor market for New Zealand, were up 6.7 percent. These numbers show that the country is recovering well and since December is only the beginning of the summer in the Southern Hemisphere this is only the start of the peak tourist season in New Zealand.

Rugby World Cup Showcased New Zealand’s Beauty

The Rugby World Cup was held last year and this enormous worldwide sporting event brought 133,000 visitors to New Zealand in September and October. Many UK visitors travelled to the island nation to participate in the event. With the international coverage of the tournament being shown to a viewing audience in over 230 countries, the Rugby World cup displayed the beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes and culture to potential visitors all over the world.

New Zealand Wins Several Travel Awards

Throughout the year 2011 New Zealand has won several travel awards which have confirmed its desirability as a friendly, hot, and popular tourist destination. The country has been named in the “Top 10 Regions to Visit in 2012” by travel guide authority Lonely Planet as well as being voted the “Best Eco-Tourism Destination” at the World Traveller tourism awards which were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Southern Lakes region on the South Island was named in the “Best in Travel 2012” issue of Lonely Planet, ranked and #8 and praised for its year round activities and absolutely gorgeous scenery.

Kaikoura, which is the whale watching capital of New Zealand’s South Island, was the very first destination in the entire world to ever achieve the gold standard in the global green benchmark for sustainability. It was awarded a Gold Community certification by the organization Green Globe.

According to the FutureBrand Country Brand Index, New Zealand has ranked as the world’s third strongest country brand. Also, many Kiwis have received accolades and been recognized as the best in the world in their field, such as wine-makers, tourism operators, artists, designers, authors, film-makers, and sports people.

In October of 2011, a survey by UK newspaper The Telegraph found that readers named New Zealand as their second favourite destination in the world. New Zealand has won many awards, but it seems to have also won the hearts of any travellers who set foot on its shores.

 

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