Hobbit Boosting NZ Tourism!! Numbers Confirm Hope for Boost

[TLCOhio]

From the Herald in New Zealand Friday, they have this headline: "Hobbit already boosting NZ tourism" with these highlights: "The Hobbit trilogy is already being credited with a big boost to New Zealand tourism with flight bookings jumping significantly as fans flock here for a taste of Middle-earth. A farm near Matamata in Waikato and parts of the Wellington region have become Hobbit tourist attractions, and fans from around the world and coming in their droves to see the backdrop to the films. Flight bookings to New Zealand through online travel site Expedia have increased 84 per cent. Another search engine, Skyscanner, revealed similar interest, with bookings on flights to Wellington up 117 per cent compared to December last year. Air New Zealand was benefiting from the film, even before its release. The airline paid for the rights to be the 'official airline of Middle-earth'. Bookings for the airline from the United States almost doubled the day before last month's Wellington premiere."

 

At a Christmas party last night, I was talking with a good friend and seasoned travel who had seen this film yesterday afternoon. He was total blown away by the visual beauty of the various settings as reflected in this new film. He didn't know how much of the film was the real New Zealand versus movie special effects. BUT, my sense is that it was mostly the "drama" of this country and its unique combination of beaches, coastlines, mountains, valleys, etc., that are there.

 

We are looking forward to our first “down under” visit, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Celebrity Solstice sailing, departing Sydney, doing 14 days on this ship we loved in the Med in June 2011. We will be finishing in Auckland. Plus, doing some pre-cruise options for Kangaroo Island near Adelaide and then the Great Barrier Reef before departing from Sidney’s scenic harbor. And, probably post-cruise in Queenstown and stopping in Tahiti on the way home to break up that long, long flight back.

 

Full story at:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10854028

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 112,532 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[TLCOhio]

Below are a couple of visuals in connection with this movie and the sights in New Zealand to help build the excitement for those visit down under in the coming months and future.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 112,532 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Here are two visuals from the Bing website in connecting with the Hobbit movie that just had its big openings in theaters around the world. Looking exciting and interesting!!

 

 

 

[TLCOhio]

From the LA Times and other newspaper this morning, they have this headline: "'The Hobbit' breaks December record with $84.8-million debut" with these highlights: ""The Hobbit" went on a bit of an unexpected journey at the box office this weekend, as the 3-D film grossed $84.8 million during its first three days in theaters, the biggest one ever for the month of December. The movie cost a whopping $250 million to produce. On the positive side, while reviews for the picture were decidedly mixed, those who saw the film this weekend loved it, meaning word-of-mouth for the movie could be strong. The crowd gave the movie an average grade of A, according to market research firm CinemaScore. The movie debuted in 55 foreign countries this weekend. "The Hobbit," which clocks in at nearly three hours, is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 children's book about a hobbit attempting to help a group of dwarves reclaim their treasure from an evil dragon. "The Lord of the Rings" film series, whose final entry was released in 2003, became one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time. The three films collected more than $2.9 billion worldwide, and the last film "The Return of the King" also won best picture at the Academy Awards."

 

Not sure I like wearing those 3-D glasses in theaters, but will have to see it before going to New Zealand in a little over a year.

 

Full story at:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-box-office-hobbit-20121216,0,1644044.story

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 112,670 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 88,810 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[TLCOhio]

Caught a couple of "Hobbit" items that might be interest to those fans and/or others, like us, preparing for an upcoming trip to New Zealand.

 

From Independent in London yesterday, they have this headline: "Middle Earthly delights in New Zealand’s South Island" with these highlights: "The extraordinary landscapes of New Zealand are once again commanding the attention of cinema-goers, with the first instalment of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy returning to a destination that first cast a spell over the Lord of the Rings films a decade ago. I decided to experience my own adventure in the country’s vast South Island: seeking out some of the film’s spectacularly remote new locations, accessible on foot and horseback. Jared Connon, supervising location manager for The Hobbit, told the writer: 'The films add to the credibility of New Zealand not only as a filmmaking destination, but as a tourist destination as well. We have so many beautiful places just waiting to be explored.' It struck me how proud New Zealanders are of Peter Jackson and his films. 'The Hobbit was a project of such national pride and national interest,' says Connon. 'Everybody in New Zealand knows someone who worked on The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, and they all have invested interest in the end goal. For The Hobbit, it was amazing to see how open everybody was to the film, because they knew what a great thing it was for the country. There was no fear of the unknown, because Peter Jackson has a history with New Zealand and everyone is so proud of him and what he’s done for the country.' "

 

Lots of details in this story on various locations in these areas of NZ. Also, from the New York Times this month, they are playing up and highlighting various travel features from earlier this year. This includes from Oct. 7 with many details and pictures on "New Zealand’s Hobbit Trail" that I had noted earlier on another thread.

 

Full stories at:

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/ausandpacific/middle-earthly-delights-in-new-zealands-south-island-8431028.html

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/travel/new-zealands-hobbit-trail.html?_r=0

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 113,103 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[kiwipete]

Hence the national airline "Air New Zealand" now also calling itself "The Airline of Middle Earth"!

They have completely painted one of their aircraft with a scene from The Hobbit! and their safety video has been "Hobbitfied". Worth a look on youtube. Search Air New Zealand Hobbit video.

[diy dave]

Been there, done that, thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Dave

[TLCOhio]

Hence the national airline "Air New Zealand" now also calling itself "The Airline of Middle Earth"! They have completely painted one of their aircraft with a scene from The Hobbit! and their safety video has been "Hobbitfied". Worth a look on youtube. Search Air New Zealand Hobbit video.

 

Appreciate from diy dave the super pictures there in Hobbit land. Great stuff. Like we're really there. As noted above by Dave, below is a visual on how that plane graphic looks. Keep up the good sharing!!

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 113,103 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

Here is a visual showing how this painting of the “middle earth” logo and info looks on the side of an Air New Zealand plane. Not bland and/or boring!!:

 

[kiwipete]

Here is the link for the Air New Zealand Hobbit safety video,

 

 

enjoy!

[OzKruser]

The Hobbiton Movie set tour is great if you can do it.

We went along last year when on a Radiance cruise and did this tour from Tauranga and the movie had just finished filming there.

Worth a look;)

[TLCOhio]

Sorry to be sharing so much, BUT, the hits and good info keeps flowing along for New Zealand. NBC's Today Show just had a super nice segment by Ann Curry being in New Zealand and doing lots on how the Hobbit and other Peter Jackson films were made so beautiful in NZ. Lots of nice, exciting visuals, insights, info, etc.

 

Here is the video link to that 4 minute, 41 second show segment feature NZ, Peter Jackson movie making, scenic areas there, etc.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/50310833#50310833

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 113,235 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474