Tourism event to showcase NZ

The countdown is on for New Zealand tourism industry's largest annual international trade event, TRENZ 2006.

For four days from Monday June 12, Christchurch will host almost 400 key international tourism and travel buyers who have travelled from all over the world to do business with a similar number of New Zealand's leading tourism operators.

The buyers are tour operators and travel agents who come to purchase accommodation, transport and activities at wholesale rates, and include them in brochures and itineraries for forthcoming seasons.

More than 1500 people are expected to attend the event, spread across a number of locations including the Westpac Centre, Addington Raceway, and the Christchurch Convention Centre.

Tourism is New Zealand's largest export earner -- accounting for 18.5 per cent of export earnings.

- NZPA