Wendy Wu Tours has launched into South America with four tours – including a 28-day Ultimate South America itinerary. Wendy Wu Tours New Zealand managing director, Paul Dymond says the programme was a couple of years in the making, starting when company founder Wendy Wu had a holiday in the continent and ‘fell in love’ with it. ‘She saw a gap in the market for the type of tour we do, so she employed a team with South American experience who have created a programme that includes all airfares, most meals and sightseeing.’ Dymond says the brochure has been brought forward a few months to compensate for what is happening in China, but it was always going to be released this year. ‘We’ve got a selection of Classic and Go Beyond tours, plus FIT add-ons and we have intro offers with savings of up to $600 per person.’ 

The brochures will be available early March from Brochurenet and digitally. Other itineraries include a 12-day Essence of Argentina and Brazil, 14-day Chile top to toe (including Patagonia), and 15-day Panoramic Peru. Meantime Dymond says the company continues to get enquiries about Asia and is still seeing sales into Japan, Vietnam and India. ‘There is definitely still interest in Asia,’ Dymond said at Flight Centre’s Travel Expo in Auckland over the weekend. ‘A lot of people are not willing to book right now but they know what they want to do and as the climate changes they will start confirming.

Group travel to Asia is continuing to be strong out of New Zealand, driven particularly by Indonesia / Bali programmes, according to a leisure and incentive destination management company that held a trade function at White and Wongs, Auckland last week.

Wendy Wu Tours is adding six itineraries for solo travellers and will be detailing them in a special flyer being sent to travel agents soon.

• Jaime McLaughlin, Jordan Jamieson, Lillie... Jaime McLaughlin, Jordan Jamieson, Lillie...
• Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours;... Paul Dymond, Wendy Wu Tours;...
• Toby Chow, Philippine Airlines; Jay... Toby Chow, Philippine Airlines; Jay...
• Jacqueline Liebenberg, Gilpin Travel; Richard... Jacqueline Liebenberg, Gilpin Travel; Richard...
• Damon Schmidt, Contiki; Shane Ogg,... Damon Schmidt, Contiki; Shane Ogg,...
• Jenna Norton, Victoria Shadad, Flight... Jenna Norton, Victoria Shadad, Flight...
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Asia Now wrapped up with presentations and a Thai dinner at Grasshopper Restaurant central Auckland on Wednesday night. It was the last of six presentations (see TRAVELinc Memo Friday 11 June for a report from the Wellington version). Presenting companies included Singapore Airlines, Wendy Wu Tours, Macao Government Tourism Office, Philippine Airlines, Contiki, Garuda, Francis Travel Marketing / Fathom Asia, and Adventure World.