Tuesday 17 March 2015

A real slice of Middle-earth descends on Changi Airport

Tourism New Zealand and Changi Airport have brought a slice of Middle-earth to Singapore for a display that showcases and celebrates all things New Zealand, including a Hobbit Hole™ from Hobbiton™ Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand that has been flown up to Singapore and constructed in Changi Airport by the very people who built The Shire™ for the phenomenal The Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit Trilogies™ movie franchise by Sir Peter Jackson.

Along with this and other memorabilia from the films that put Middle-earth on the world map, the event showcases New Zealand’s stunningly beautiful landscapes, rich experiences and warm hospitality.

The Naturally New Zealand exhibition at Changi Airport Terminal 3 features two facets of exhilarating New Zealand – Middle-earth and the modern New Zealand. Fans of The Lord of the Rings™ and The Hobbit™ Trilogies, as well as airport visitors, can explore the Hobbit Hole™, meet Gandalf the Grey as he stands guard over The One Ring™ and learn about the various scenic terrains that make up The Shire™, Erebor and Hobbiton Woods. Adrenaline junkies can also enjoy a thrilling 5D simulator ride1. On the other side of the exhibition, visitors can enjoy a snippet of modern New Zealand, where popular sports such as rugby, golf and cycling are featured. Visitors to the exhibition can also enjoy samples of New Zealand’s local produce2 .

This is the second authentic Hobbit Hole™ out of Matamata, New Zealand. The first was created in London, specifically for the world première of the final film in The Hobbit™ Trilogies in December 2014.

The year 2015 is significant for New Zealand and Singapore as the two nations commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations and the return of Air New Zealand to the direct route.

Tourism New Zealand continues to promote the proximity of diverse experiences for travellers in New Zealand, and to highlight New Zealand as the real Middle-earth on the back of the release of the final film in The Hobbit™ Trilogies. Tourism New Zealand has seen a 52 per cent increase in visitor arrivals since The Lord of the RingsTM and then The HobbitTMfilms. In 2014, 13 per cent, or just over 1 in 10 holiday visitors, said The HobbitTM was one of the reasons they chose to visit New Zealand.

Visitor numbers from Singapore to New Zealand continue to rise, reaching 46,608 arrivals in the year ending January 2015, an increase of 8.2%. Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Manager of South and South-east Asia, Steven Dixon, says this is expected to continue to rise as seat capacity grows through the Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines alliance and as promotional campaigns continue to showcase both the variety of experiences and the ease of travel between places in New Zealand.

“We were very pleased to officially welcome our national carrier back to Singapore earlier this month and will be working closely to grow both demand and capacity for travel to New Zealand. New Zealand is the ultimate getaway for Singaporeans, who appreciate the huge amount of space, the fresh air, epic scenery and of course, being a nation of foodies, the very fresh locally-grown produce. It’s the ideal place to rejuvenate, to unwind and to go home with a whole album of experiences that seem out of this world.”

Changi Airport is linked directly to Auckland via both Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, which each operate one daily return service between Auckland and Singapore. Singapore Airlines also operate a daily return service between Christchurch and Singapore.

“The new Auckland-Singapore service operated by Air New Zealand will foster stronger people flow between the two countries. Today, Singapore is a well-regarded leisure and business destination for New Zealanders. Last year, Singapore welcomed more than 118,000 New Zealand visitors. New Zealand, on the other hand, is also a very popular destination amongst Singapore travellers,” says Mr Lim Ching Kiat, Senior Vice President, Market Development of Changi Airport Group. He continued, “The ‘Naturally New Zealand’ event aims to bring New Zealand even closer to the Singapore public and Changi’s passengers. Through the exhibits that highlights the country’s breathtaking nature, stunning tourism attractions and delightful offerings, visitors can also experience an adventurous journey through the ‘Middle-earth’.”

The ‘Naturally New Zealand’ event is open from 12 noon to 10pm daily from 14 to 5 April 2015. On top of the interactive exhibition and 5D simulator ride, visitors can enjoy exclusive travel deals to New Zealand offered by travel partners3 at the event on weekends. Shoppers and diners at Changi Airport can also participate in a lucky draw to win an all-expenses-paid trip for four to New Zealand. Contests will also be held on Changi Airport’s social media platforms4, giving fans to win Middle-earth giveaways as well as an autographed All Blacks rugby ball.

No comments:

Post a Comment