Backpackers buck the recession trend 

Source: ONE News

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As New Zealand's tourism industry feels the pinch of the recession with fewer overseas visitors, the backpacking sector is bucking that trend and coming here in their droves.

And at the first ever backpacker industry conference in Auckland, Tourism New Zealand announced a campaign to attract even more backpackers.

The campaign aims to get young Brits on their gap year to put New Zealand on their must-do list.

"A lot of people go to kind of South Asia, Thailand, Australia...a few people miss out New Zealand," says British backpacker Charles Witcombe.

It is this oversight that has prompted Tourism New Zealand to encourage backpackers to "go all the way".

Spokesman George Hickton says they want to make sure people don't stop their round the world experience at Australia. The organisation is about to launch a new ad in the UK and will be targeting Europe later this year.

More than 180,000 backpackers have visited New Zealand in the past year - up 4% on the previous year. And while the perception is that backpackers are doing it on the cheap, the average traveller spends $2750 during their stay but backpackers spend nearly $3200 per visit.

Tourism New Zealand is partnering with Bebo and running a competition for five backpackers to travel New Zealand as part of an online reality television show.

Those in the industry say social networking sites are replacing the hostel noticeboard. Online marketing strategist Dan Roberts says people use the sites to keep in touch with each other and check reviews and ratings.

Tourism operators are hoping that through word of mouth online, Going all the Way to New Zealand will be a tempting offer for backpackers.