A significant strategic alliance has been forged between Flamingo Transworld and Tourism New Zealand, marking a pivotal step towards enriching travel experiences for Indian tourists visiting the scenic island nation. This landmark partnership aims to streamline the process for Indian travelers, promoting New Zealand as a premier, year-round destination by offering curated itineraries and simplified booking procedures, thereby fostering a deeper connection between the two nations through tourism.
This collaboration gains further impetus from recent high-level diplomatic engagements, specifically following New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India. During his productive meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Tourism Minister Louise Upston and key industry leaders, discussions centered on bolstering bilateral ties, with tourism emerging as a crucial area for mutual growth. Luxon underscored the shared cultural bonds and the substantial potential for deepening economic and tourism relations.
A core objective of this newly established partnership is to strategically increase Indian tourist arrivals in New Zealand, particularly targeting the traditionally off-peak months spanning from March to November. This timeframe is thoughtfully chosen to coincide with India’s major summer holidays and significant cultural festivals like Diwali, presenting an opportune moment to draw a greater influx of Indian travelers during periods that typically experience lower tourism volumes, thus ensuring more consistent visitor flow.
Sanjay Shah, the Managing Director of Flamingo Transworld, emphasized that this synergistic agreement perfectly aligns with his company’s overarching mission to deliver exhilarating and profoundly meaningful global travel experiences for Indian travelers. He eloquently articulated New Zealand’s inherent appeal, citing its breathtaking natural landscapes, diverse adventure opportunities, and renowned warm hospitality as a compelling combination that ideally suits Indian tourists seeking immersive nature and adventure-centric holidays.
India has rapidly ascended to become an exceptionally vital and burgeoning source market for New Zealand’s tourism sector, evidenced by a remarkable surge in visitor numbers. In 2024 alone, over 80,000 Indian visitors explored New Zealand, representing an impressive 23% growth compared to 2019 figures. Recent travel analyses further highlight this escalating interest, indicating that major Indian metropolitan centers such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru exhibit a strong predilection for New Zealand, with approximately 43% of surveyed travelers considering it their foremost international travel choice.
Tourism New Zealand’s commitment extends to making the country more broadly accessible and welcoming for Indian travelers throughout the entire year, moving beyond the traditional peak seasons. Angela Blair, General Manager at Tourism New Zealand, stressed the immense value placed on the Indian market. She conveyed the country’s optimism that, with Flamingo Transworld’s robust support, they will successfully enhance the number of Indian visitors during the off-peak periods, thereby allowing them to fully immerse themselves in New Zealand’s distinctive cultural tapestry and diverse natural wonders.
As an integral part of this dynamic partnership, Flamingo Transworld and Tourism New Zealand are jointly developing sophisticated marketing initiatives, crafting innovative travel packages, and implementing enhanced training programs for Indian travel agents. The collective endeavor is designed to offer readily available travel plans, user-friendly online booking platforms, and bespoke experiences meticulously tailored to the diverse interests and preferences of Indian tourists, moving beyond conventional sightseeing tours.
A culminating feature of this ambitious collaboration is the much-anticipated “Kiwi Link India” event, slated for July 2025. This significant gathering will be hosted in key Indian cities, Goa and New Delhi, convening leading travel experts and industry professionals from both nations. The event’s multifaceted agenda aims to foster groundbreaking ideas, facilitate strategic business deals, and solidify stronger commercial and cultural linkages between the Indian and New Zealand travel industries, serving as a powerful platform for introducing pioneering travel solutions and partnerships that will further simplify and enhance the New Zealand travel experience for Indian visitors.
