Kristin Dunne Tourism Bay of Plenty

There are positive signs for Bay of Plenty tourism, which all point to an international boost.

TRENZ recently saw more than 1,500 delegates from around the world marvel at our abundant region – eyeing the chance to add the coastal Bay of Plenty's tourism offerings to their itineraries.

Across the four-day expo, Tourism Bay of Plenty and local operators did an exceptional job showcasing the region to a whopping 55 product managers and buyers from around the world, targeting the USA, Canada, the UK and European markets.

White Island Tours and Waimarino Glow Worm Kayak Tours also lent a helping hand to provide a snapshot of the incomparable tourist activities our region boasts.

A stand-out moment was the stirring insight Murupara's Kohutapu Lodge and Ngati Awa provided, via the ‘Maori Leading Regional Tourism Panel', into how they are trying to revive the township and stimulate opportunities for the wider communities through tourism.

This goes to show how a region's local passion and pride is an integral driver for turning visions into reality.

Following this success, and with Tourism New Zealand's help, we hosted a group of South American buyers from Argentina and Brazil, who enjoyed an evening out on Lake McLaren with a trip to the Glow Worm Canyon, hosted by Waimarino.

Without the collaborative efforts of such operators, who are passionate about our region and its tourism offerings, we wouldn't be able to put the Bay of Plenty on the map.

We look forward to an increase in visitors, as overseas tourists look to explore new regions of the country – and particularly here in our backyard.

Watch this space.