Kia ora from the Land of the Long White Cloud! In an exciting move underscoring its commitment to the Indian market, Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) has appointed Ms. Debapriya Gupta as its new India Trade Marketing Manager. With more than 16 years of experience in product development and cross-functional leadership, Gupta brings both strategic acumen and creative flair to the role. Outside the boardroom, she’s as adventurous as the destinations she promotes — an accomplished mountaineer and a gifted artist.
Her appointment marks a critical chapter in TNZ’s renewed engagement with India, a market now witnessing a robust rebound. As of March 2025, total arrivals from India have surged to 122.4% of pre-pandemic levels, while holiday arrivals have rebounded to 87%. This upward trend highlights a remarkable recovery — and a reinvigorated ambition to turn Indian interest into luxury arrivals.
Reimagining Seasons: Winter Is the New Peak
TNZ is boldly expanding into seasonal storytelling. Its first-ever Trade Marketplace Campaign partnered with eight top-tier Indian travel brands to promote exclusive Autumn/Winter travel packages, showcased on TNZ’s consumer site with direct booking links — a digital pivot designed to drive seamless conversions.
Simultaneously, a Winter Campaign launched in collaboration with nine leading Indian travel agencies aims to reposition New Zealand’s colder months as elite travel seasons. Think luxurious lodges dusted in snow, geothermal spas, and vineyard tastings — all far from the summer crowds, yet brimming with immersive charm.
Where Strategy Meets Scenery: TRENZ 2025
This May, New Zealand’s premier tourism trade event, TRENZ 2025, returned to Rotorua with a greener, tech-forward format. More than 1,200 global delegates participated, including a record-setting 32 buyers from India, who engaged in up to 52 curated meetings with top Kiwi tourism operators. This milestone sets a new standard for business-to-business tourism engagement and reaffirms India’s strategic role in New Zealand’s inbound tourism landscape.
Immersion Tours That Inspire Confidence
Elite travel doesn’t come from brochures — it’s born from experience. In April and May, TNZ hosted ten Indian agents — winners of the “Learn and Win” campaign — on a 6-night familiarisation (famil) tour of New Zealand. Highlights included the adventure capital Queenstown, cultural hot spot Auckland, fresh seafood feasts, and world-renowned wines. For these agents, the trip offered more than scenic views — it equipped them with confidence to recommend bespoke New Zealand experiences to discerning Indian travellers.
Building Product Knowledge at the Sourc
Product education remains at the heart of TNZ’s Indian strategy. Over the past five months, TNZ, in partnership with Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, rolled out comprehensive training sessions in Bengaluru, Surat, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune. These sessions empower frontline agents with nuanced insights into luxury Kiwi travel — essential for converting interest into high-value itineraries.
Looking Ahead: A Journey of Growth and Partnership
“Our vision is clear — to deepen relationships and deliver on India’s vast tourism potential,” says Neha Bhola, Country Manager – India for Tourism New Zealand. “With initiatives that blend tech-savvy campaigns, strategic alliances, and authentic storytelling, we are not just selling travel — we’re shaping aspiration.”
As elite travellers seek destinations that offer authenticity with luxury, solitude with sophistication, and nature with nuance — New Zealand’s promise has never been more compelling.
