Brisbane 17 October 2013. An invitation to attend Brisbane’s blockbuster summer event season will be extended to New Zealanders as part of a new tourism marketing campaign which began this week.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said New Zealand was Brisbane’s largest international market with 171,000 New Zealanders travelling to the region last financial year.

“Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing have established a successful partnership, annually promoting Brisbane as a premier holiday and events destination to New Zealanders in the lead-up to summer,” Ms Stuckey said.

“This year’s campaign has a heightened focus on the city’s superb summer events, including the Brisbane International tennis, Cai Guo-Qiang: Falling Back to Earth exhibition and the Australian premiere of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“The campaign screens until the end of October and includes print, online, billboard and transit ads encouraging residents in Auckland and Wellington to travel through until the end of January.

“The campaign sees industry working together to promote the region with more than 40 events and tourism operators showcased in the campaign.

“The advertising will be underpinned by media and travel trade tours of Brisbane occurring throughout October.

“The campaign will also capitalise on the introduction of Emirates new daily return A380 Auckland-Brisbane service which provides an additional 45,000 seats into Brisbane annually.”

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the joint marketing initiative complemented Brisbane Marketing’s domestic campaign.

“With both the domestic and New Zealand summer campaigns in market, we’re really driving the idea that Brisbane is a fantastic place to visit,” Cr Quirk said.

“Not only will Brisbane be advertised across the Tasman, but local friends and relatives will advocate Brisbane, promoting the city to their loved ones in New Zealand.

“This kind of marketing is a key in building Brisbane’s reputation as a world-class destination.”

Minister Stuckey said tourism was one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and the campaign was one of many initiatives to help the Government reach its goal of doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020

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