New Caledonia Tourism has a new trade website and e-learning platform for travel agents.

Designed to grow agents’ knowledge and understanding of New Caledonia, both the website and platform feature practical information to engage the industry with the South Pacific archipelago.

Agents who deal with group travel of various sorts were the target audience of a joint destination Pacific event at Villa Maria Estate near Auckland Airport mid October.

Organiser Faye Spooner says Meet the Pacific was aimed at incentive, meeting and conference organisers but beyond that had appeal to wedding planners and organisers of sports and educational tours, as well as travel agents who send inter-generational and other family groups to the Pacific. While most of the ‘buyers’ were from Auckland, agents also came from Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth and Rotorua.

Sharp industry airfares with Aircalin and a selection of trade deals with New Caledonia properties and transport operators are encouraging New Zealand agents to conduct a self famil of the destination.

New Caledonia has launched a new microsite showcasing its adventure, cultural and foodie experiences.

Soft adventure will be New Caledonia Tourism’s key message to Kiwis next year as the NTO builds on the 60% visitor growth it has seen out of this country over the past two to three years.
‘When I started in this role in 2015, about 6000 Kiwis travelled to New Caledonia,’ says Sally Pepermans, New Caledonia’s New Zealand representative. ‘In 2017 we hit 10,000 and 2018 is looking strong.

A rare opportunity for travel brokers and independent travel agents to catch up with 80 plus suppliers under one roof in Auckland will be provided by an annual exhibition late next month.

Promenade Tours has an expanding team and new tours in its range.

Sales and marketing manager Julie Cassin says new off-road tours are designed to get people out of Noumea and into the New Caledonian outback. ‘The key is that we have made this easy to book and easy to experience. We want people to think beyond transfers and city tours.’

Having a day on Amedee Island is still one of the easiest ways to get out of the city and enjoy a local lagoon experience, say Beatrix Cuenot and Anne Gilodi of Mary D / Noumea Discovery.

A new approach to international promotion, increased efforts to attract investment in tourism restructure and more emphasis on education and training are all features of a new strategy set to be announced by New Caledonia’s Congress in July.