Three southern airports join forces

The Southern Airports Alliance (Queenstown, Invercargill, and Dunedin airports) and the eight southern Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) working collectively under the banner of Southern Way have formed a partnership to make it easier for people to explore the lower half of the South Island.

Supported by Air New Zealand, the initiative encourages visitors to use the airline’s multistop booking tool to fly into one of the three airports, rent a vehicle to explore the region, then fly out of another airport.

'One trip to see it all' is the slogan for the campaign, which builds on the work of the eight RTOs in the lower South Island to promote longer-stay, lower-impact itineraries.

A dedicated Southern Way page on the Air New Zealand website is offering itinerary suggestions and inspiration to assist people to plan and book a trip that suits their timeframes and interests.

“We’re excited by the opportunities this opens up, and we believe there are real benefits for everyone in spreading visitors widely around the region, rather than having them concentrated in a few hotspots,” Queenstown Airport acting chief executive Todd Grace says.

“This is a meaningful way of supporting the regenerative tourism aspirations of our community and the lower South alongside Dunedin and Invercargill airports.”

It's a good fit for the region's 'Destination Plans', developed in recent years with community and stakeholder input, according to Southern Way project manager Sanae Herd.

“Our communities have told us that they want to see tourism developed and managed to deliver longer stay, lower impact visitation that shares cultural and economic benefits across the wider regions.

"All of the RTOs involved are excited to have Air New Zealand and the Southern Airports Alliance fully engaged with this approach and working with us to facilitate visitors moving more widely around the regions and thereby reducing the risks of overcrowding and pressure points.”

Dunedin Airport Chief Executive Daniel De Bono says visitors who book a Southern Way itinerary will be spoilt for choice.

“Dunedin itself is full of amazing attractions, from its renowned heritage buildings to rare wildlife. From there, visitors can travel through Waitaki, Clutha, Central Otago, or down to Southland.”

Invercargill Airport chief executive Stuart Harris is also excited by the possibilities created by one-way travel and hopes it will entice more visitors to New Zealand’s southernmost city.

“There are so many surprises for people to discover here. Southland has some stunning scenery and the open-jaw itinerary encourages visits to the beautiful Catlins, Rakiura, and Riverton.”

Inspiration for routes to follow and experiences to enjoy can be found on the Southern Way website.

Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty says the campaign illustrates how easy it is to book an epic road trip holiday, using the airline’s multistop booking tool.

“We fly to 20 domestic destinations which serve as gateways to all of Aotearoa’s beautiful regions.

“The Southern Way is the perfect example of how travellers can fly into one airport, and fly out of another, getting to experience multiple destinations in the one trip.

"To make the journey even smoother, customers can even book their rental car through us at the same time as booking their flights, and earn Airpoints Dollars on the hire.”