Source: School of Tourism Management
Written by: School of Tourism Management
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On the morning of February 29, 2016, a 7-member delegation from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) of New Zealand and New Zealand Consulate-General in Guangzhou visited Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). The delegation held a discussion about the development of Chinese tourist market in New Zealand with representatives from the School of Tourism Management (STM) in Zhongshan Building on Guangzhou South Campus.

Members of the New Zealand delegation included Lisa Barrett, General Manager of Tourism Policy of MBIE; Jennie Kennerley, Senior Policy Analyst of Tourism Policy of MBIE; Lucy Coghill, Policy Analyst of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Rebecca Needham, New Zealand Consul-General in Guangzhou; Qifan Li, Public Affairs Officer and Felix Ye, Education Manager of New Zealand Consulate-General in Guangzhou; and Susan Cooke, Senior Liaison Officer of Immigration New Zealand.

Prof. Luo Qiuju, Associate Dean of STM, Prof. Xu Honggang, Associate Professor Chen Ganghua, Lecturer Liu Yi and Lecturer Yu Xiaojuan from STM attended the meeting.

Prof. Luo Qiuju extended a warm welcome to the delegation and expressed her belief that New Zealand, as an increasingly popular destination of Chinese tourists, is extremely valuable for market research.

Ms. Lisa Barrett said that she was glad to visit STM and had the opportunity to discuss issues of market demands, traveling experiences of Chinese people as well as tourism strategies.

The two sides discussed developments in tourism and relevant supporting policies; tourism promotional plans in New Zealand; travel facilitation and visa streamlining in New Zealand; as well as needs and characteristics of Chinese and New Zealand travellers. Both sides expressed the hope to conduct more academic cooperation and exchange on travel and tourism.