13 Dec 2008

Tourist board looks toward social networking sites

10:32 am on 13 December 2008

Tourism New Zealand is looking to social networking sites as a way to advertise New Zealand.

The agency has launched a roaming recording studio which will tour New Zealand to record messages from international visitors to their friends and family.

Short personalised video clips will be posted on sites such as YouTube and Facebook.

Tourism chief executive George Hickon says marketing New Zealand is more crucial than ever in the wake of declining visitor numbers.

He anticipates about 3000 messages will be captured on camera for viewing people overseas.