The Ctrip Institute of Customized Travel Business, the largest customized travel platform in China, and Tourism New Zealand announced a strategic partnership aiming to provide a better selection of customizable travel products and services for travelers visiting New Zealand.
Kane Xu, CEO of Ctrip Customized Trave; Gregg Wafelbakker, Asia General Manager of Tourism New Zealand
The two sides will work together on a training program in New Zealand entitled "New Zealand Travel Expert + Customized Travel”. The initiative marks the first time the Ctrip Institute of Customized Travel Business has co-operated with an overseas tourism bureau.
Between July 2017 and July 2018, more than 448,000 Chinese tourists visited New Zealand. Customized travel is increasingly becoming recognized as the best way to explore New Zealand.
According to Ctrip's Customized Travel platform, demand for a more personalized and in-depth experience of New Zealand has increased by 150% year-on-year over the last year. These travelers not only stay in New Zealand much longer than those who travel to New Zealand as part of a tour group, but also travel to more regions and participate in more in-depth travel activities.
In response to this trend, the training program is to improve the professionalism and quality of services for customized travel in New Zealand. Joint data sharing, user analysis and marketing will also be carried out by both parties to meet the customized needs of Chinese tourists.
The main target customer groups for the project are family trips and honeymoons, with the training including sections specifically focused on both these kinds of packages.
