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Tourism campaign sells NZ as home of the Hobbits

Published: 6:25PM Thursday August 23, 2012 Source: ONE News

A multi-million dollar Tourism New Zealand campaign riding on the potential success of the new Hobbit film is about to be released and screened around the world.

Although the 60-second "100% Middle Earth" commercial will not be aired in New Zealand, it is set to be broadcast in the key tourist markets of Australia, United Kingdom, United States, China and Germany.

You can watch it below.

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Tourism NZ's Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the films will once again put New Zealand's spectacular landscapes in front of movie lovers worldwide.

"Our aim is to take advantage of that global profile by showing how easily the fantasy of The Hobbit movies can become reality in the form of a New Zealand holiday," he said.

The fact that New Zealand provides the backdrop for Peter Jackson's new film is clearly referenced, with many shots of picturesque mountains and fresh-water lakes starring throughout.

But the most obvious connection to the film is several shots of tourists pictured visiting the hillside huts of The Hobbit set in Matamata.

"Where creatures dwell in ancient caves, it's a place that will forever keep you under it's spell," says a voiceover at the end of the commercial.

Bowler says Tourism NZ has invested around $10 million on producing the new campaign.

"We started on this almost a year ago. We started thinking about Middle Earth and the new Hobbit films and how we could make the most out of this opportunity."

More than a decade ago, a similar campaign referenced The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which Tourism NZ says was a resounding success, attracting around 2.5 million visitors here each year.

"I see it growing exponentially with the pending release of the Hobbit movies. I see it only growing as we go forward," said Russell Alexander, a tour guide at Hobbiton.

The first of the three Hobbit films was shot here, and is currently in post-production.

The premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be held at Wellington's Embassy Theatre on 28 November.

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