Christchurch Airport handled 6.6m passengers in 2017. Source: CIAL.

New Zealand is embarking on an initiative to trap Chinese tourist spends via e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba.

Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) have struck a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to help New Zealand businesses sell products to Chinese visitors.

The MOU will hinge on three areas: increasing Chinese travellers’ spend in New Zealand through Alipay, growing bookings via online travel store Fliggy and promoting micro-exporting opportunities using online shopping platform Tmall.

SOARING INTEREST

More than 3,000 businesses have expressed an interest in becoming Alipay merchants, according to CIAL.

The airport, through its ‘South’ brand, will now begin to launch stores on Fliggy and Tmall.

Justin Watson, Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer, CIAL says the MOU offers great potential to amplify the country’s tourism and export trade by facilitating business connections between Kiwi firms and the record number of Chinese tourists visiting the country.

He says it will hope to spark interest from businesses in and around the greater Auckland area who are keen to sign up and take advantage of the new service.

“Alipay has 520 million Chinese users, Fliggy has 220 million members and Tmall Global has more than 515 million … this presents a huge opportunity for kiwi businesses,” he stated.

“This is about using the power of the Internet to make it easier for New Zealand businesses, of all sizes, to do business internationally.

“The potential is huge and we are incredibly proud to be working alongside ATEED and creating this opportunity for our place in the world.”

ATEED General Manager Destination, Steve Armitage added: “China is a key market for Auckland’s visitor economy. This partnership will help make the Auckland region more accessible and appealing to these high-value visitors.

“As Auckland’s economic growth and tourism promotion agency, this presents a fantastic opportunity for ATEED to help Auckland businesses gain access into the Chinese market. It will also make it easier for Chinese visitors to pre-book travel to Auckland, and utilise the platform for purchases when they are here.”

SEAT CAPACITY +7%

CIAL handled a record 6.6m passengers in 2017, as airline seat availability increased by 7% to 8.3m.

In a separate, but important announcement today, Singapore Airlines will begin operating an Airbus 350 service from Changi to Christchurch in January 2019.

A 777 carrier has served the route since 2002, but the A350 upgrade allows South Island passengers to choose business or premium economy options for the first time.

Added comfort such as higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body and lighting designed to reduce jetlag will also feature.