23 Jun 2011

Exchange rate attraction for Australian business tourists

5:16 pm on 23 June 2011

The business tourism industry is expecting more Australian companies will reward their staff by sending them to New Zealand because of the favourable exchange rate.

The 15th annual business tourism event, called MEETINGS, is being held over two days in Rotorua this week.

Business tourism includes company conferences and companies rewarding staff for achieving success.

Currently 60% of business visitors to New Zealand are from Australia.

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand chief executive Alan Trotter says the amount of money spent by business visitors outweighs the spend of other international visitors.

He says Australians get better value for money in New Zealand because of the relative strength of the Australian dollar.