Written by new-contact on Apr 16, 2013. Posted in On Location

Air New Zealand claims sales spur through Hobbit film tourism

Air New Zealand has said its online sales have grown since its marketing tie-ins with Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit film earlier this year. Film tourism first gave New Zealand a boost when the Lord of the Rings trilogy was released ten years ago.

“We have seen online sales increase in several markets as a result of Air New Zealand’s and Tourism New Zealand’s marketing activity around the movie,” said Air New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon: “Our Hobbit-themed onboard safety video An Unexpected Briefing attracted more than ten million views on Youtube and 1.4 million views on Youku in China.”

Jackson’s Hobbit films created at least 3,000 jobs and paid for 93,000 bed nights as part of their production spending, according to official figures relayed from the government to Associated Press NZ. Politicians remain under pressure to keep the country’s filming incentive programme flexible, a move that’s supported by both Peter Jackson and James Cameron.

(Main page Hobbit still: James Fisher/Warner Brothers/MGM Pictures)