FROM OUR DESK
With traditional trade partners maybe becoming a little less reliable to deal with, clients will be looking to spread their risk by finding new markets. It’s time to get back to import/export 1.01! Going back to attending international trade fairs is the quickest way to meet new clients or suppliers – from all countries. The most ‘international’ trade fairs are those held in Germany; attending a fair in your line of business in Germany is not about doing business in Germany, the key being that Germany is simply the venue of the world’s most international trade fairs attracting people from your sector from the world over – from the exhibitor and visitor, exporter or importer perspective. The trade fair grounds at various German cities are simply amongst the largest in the world as is the range of trade fairs. The German-NZ Chamber of Commerce is often the best place to start your enquiry about trade fairs, ATPI Travel is the next best - for booking your flight to business success in new markets!
We were bemused by the local reaction to the increase in the New Zealand inbound visitor ‘International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy’ which went from NZ$35 to NZ$100 recently. The reality is that if you throw a dart at your wall map, there is a high chance that the destination pinned by the dart will be plotting exactly the same measures in order to extract a few more dollars from international tourists. Contrary to some opinion, these Taxes and Levies certainly to not deter many Travellers from making a choice about their destination…especially those with the higher travel budgets we want to attract into New Zealand. If you have a bucket list and it includes New Zealand most won’t waiver from their list because of NZ$65. Conversely some of the increased visa or fees our overseas bound New Zealand tourists will experience will find many cities or countries have increased bed taxes, launched day-tripper or cruise guest taxes or increased airport taxes. Amsterdam’s bed tax is now 12.5%, Maldives has increased the TGST (Tourism Goods and Services tax) to 17%, the UK now has the Electronic Travel Authorisation at GBP10, Scotland will likely have a tax on every overnight Airbnb or hotel stay, Mexico has imposed a US$42 levy for every cruise guest, Venice has a new day-tripper tax being tested. Expect more of this!
Grant Bevin, Managing Director