WELLINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand is to host a meeting of Australian state and federal tourism ministers next month to discuss ways the two countries can work together to attract foreign visitors, a senior official said on Monday.
"The Tourism Ministers Meeting is an opportunity for Australian and New Zealand ministers to monitor progress on important tourism strategies, policy and to exchange views on international tourism trends that affect both countries," New Zealand Associate Tourism Minister Todd McClay said in a statement.
"The fact is also that many northern hemisphere travelers visit both Australia and New Zealand during the same trip. It's therefore important we work together to promote our unique countries internationally."
Discussions would based on "win-win opportunities" for both countries, such as the single trans-Tasman visitor visa and other procedures to make travel easier for international visitors coming for the Cricket World Cup being hosted by the two countries next year.
"Tourism is a major contributor to the economies of both countries and given our location we inevitably share many international and domestic visitors, which is why the close relationship we have with Australia is so important," said McClay.
In the year to March, more than 1.2 million Australians visited New Zealand and spent over 2.1 billion NZ dollars (1.83 billion U. S. dollars), making Australia New Zealand's biggest tourism market, while more than 1.1 million New Zealanders visited Australia, spending 2.3 billion AU dollars (2.16 billion U.S. dollars).
The date and venue for the Tourism Ministers Meeting, to be chaired by Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, would be announced in the near future, he said.
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