Visiting anglers help to promote N.Z. fishing

Press, 6 March 1985, Page 6

Visiting anglers help to promote N.Z. fishing

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

A survey of 120 anglers who came to New Zealand last year shows that more than 50 per cent first learned about New Zealand as a good place for fishing, from a friend.

The survey was done by the International Sport Fishing Marketing Group, to gain first-hand information about this specialist market. It was in the form of a questionnaire which guides gave their overseas fishing clients.

It has been welcomed by the Minister of Tourism and Marketing, Mr Moore, as showing that enthusiastic anglers from overseas are

some of New Zealand’s best advertisements for a .fishing holiday. About 50 per cent of those surveyed (although not necessarily the same people) had previously visited New Zealand to fish, and some more than once. Mr Moore said it was estimated that about 5000 people visited New Zealand every year solely to fish for trout or game fish, and many more tourists did some fishing while here. Replies from the overseas anglers who had returned their questionnaires indicated that people who were offering and servicing New Zealand fishing holidays were satisfying their customers.

The survey answers showed that Taupo was the most popular fishing area with the visitors, followed in order by the Southern Lakes, Southland, and Rotorua.

Most of the anglers were from North America. Mr Moore said that this was the area where the Sport Fishing Marketing Group was concentrating its promotional efforts. “If we want them to make another visit, or to encourage their friends at home to come here, it is important to back up the promotion and marketing by people such as the Sport Fishing Marketing Group with top-class facilities and service here,” he said.

Some 60 per cent had travelled with only one other person, because anglers did not like travelling in large groups, and by far the majority had preferred the flexibility and independence of rental car transport combined with motel accommodation. The largest group (46 per cent) of anglers had said they had got the detailed information on fishing in New Zealand from the Tourist and Publicity Department, either by establishing contact with the nearest New Zealand Tourist Office, or direct through the department’s fishing officer, Mr Rex Forrester.