Australian ski industry angry over Qantas' Kiwi promotion

File photo / supplied

The Australian ski industry's blood is boiling over Qantas' decision to help promote New Zealand with a A$4 million partnership.

The two-year deal was announced this week as part of Qantas' aim to boost visitor arrivals in New Zealand from Australia, the US, Germany and the UK.

Snow Australia CEO Colin Hackworth told news.com.au that the decision was "very disappointing indeed", especially in light of the threats already posed by cheap flights and the strength of the Australian dollar.

"It upsets me greatly," he said. "We're ending up with a government sanctioned raid by a foreign power on Australia's tourism industry.

"All industries in Australia are doing it tough, with the exception of mining. New Zealand is a direct competitor for us. Our industry is trying really, really hard and then for government just to allow another government to saunter into our market and launch a raid ... I just don't think it's good enough.

Mr Hackworth said New Zealand already takes 25 per cent of the Australian snow holiday market.

He said Australia's snow industry received little support from the government, despite providing 17,000 jobs and being worth A$1.7 billion.

A Qantas spokesman defended the move, saying the airline already contributes significantly to Australian tourism.

"We have a $44m partnership with Tourism Australia to promote Australia internationally and we work directly with the industry too," he told news.com.au.

He said international and domestic tourists travelling with Qantas spent A$25b in Australia in 2010 and 2011 alone.

"We are a major trans-Tasman airline and it is perfectly appropriate for us to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination - just as we promote a wide range of international destinations across the Qantas network."

The Australian ski season begins this month.