China takes heed of Maori tourism experience

Chair of Tourism New Zealand, His Excellency Minister Luo Shugang, Minister of Culture and Tourism, People’s Republic of China, Kelvin Davis, Minister of Tourism March 2019

Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis says China and New Zealand have a lot to learn from each other about tourism.

Mr Davis is heading for Shanghai on the weekend to wrap up the China New Zealand Year of Tourism.

He says he was struck by a comment from his Chinese counterpart earlier this year that what he remembered most from his New Zealand holiday 20 years ago was the Māori experience.

"One of the things they've said to us and they've asked our advice on is how do we do it so well, we mix our culture and tourism offering so well, whereas when you go to China you go somewhere and you look at something, it may be the Great Wall or the Forbidden City but they don't actually mix the culture in with it, it's really just a viewing experience," Mr Davis says.

China is New Zealand's second largest source of tourists and its fourth most popular tourism destination.

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