New Zealand Leads the Way in Personalized Travel with its Five City Roadshow, Capturing the Rising Demand for Tailored Experiences Among Indian Tourists

General Travel New Zealand successfully wrapped up its 5-city roadshow across India from June 30 to July 4, 2025, with stops in Jaipur, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore. The event received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Indian travel trade community, reinforcing New Zealand’s position as an ideal long-haul destination for Indian travelers. The roadshow provided a unique opportunity to engage with the Indian market, showcasing New Zealand’s diverse travel offerings and catering to the growing interest in experiential and personalized travel experiences.

This year’s roadshow was especially noteworthy as it showcased the largest delegation from New Zealand to date, with 16 leading tourism companies participating. The delegation highlighted an array of experiences ranging from guided seat-in-coach tours and cultural explorations to luxury stays and soft adventure activities, all curated through General Travel’s specialized Kiwiway Vacations FIT packages. These packages were designed to meet the specific preferences of the Indian outbound market, offering bespoke travel experiences that cater to diverse interests, including adventure, culture, and luxury.

The participating companies represented a wide spectrum of New Zealand’s tourism offerings, including some of the country’s most prominent brands. These included Skyline Enterprises, Southern Discoveries, Entrada Group, Hobbiton Movie Set Tours, RealNZ, Transport World Invercargill, Polynesian Spa, Te Puia, Totally Tourism (Helicopter Line), BLACK, The Helicopter Line, Sudima Hotels, Millennium Hotels, Distinction Hotels, Scenic Hotel Group, RotoruaNZ, West Coast Tourism, and Air New Zealand. The delegation worked together to provide a comprehensive view of what New Zealand has to offer, ensuring that all market segments were represented, from FIT travelers and families to honeymooners and luxury vacationers.

Throughout the roadshow, the delegation engaged with more than 300 travel agents, providing them with a wealth of information about New Zealand’s travel experiences. The B2B sessions were integral to deepening the knowledge of New Zealand’s tourism products among Indian travel professionals, allowing them to better understand and sell the destination to their clients. The interactions focused on building strong relationships, exploring potential partnerships, and equipping Indian travel agents with the tools needed to cater to the growing demand for experiential travel from Indian consumers.

The roadshow underscored the growing appetite among Indian travelers for bespoke and immersive vacation experiences. As the Indian travel market evolves, there is a noticeable shift towards more authentic, tailored journeys. New Zealand’s diverse range of offerings—ranging from breathtaking natural landscapes and thrilling adventure activities to rich cultural experiences and high-end accommodations—makes it an increasingly appealing choice for those seeking unique and customized travel experiences. The positive response from the Indian travel trade demonstrated the growing interest in New Zealand as a destination for those seeking unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

The success of the roadshow was further strengthened by the involvement of Global Destinations, General Travel’s representative in India. With their expertise in destination marketing and extensive industry relationships, Global Destinations played a crucial role in organizing and executing the roadshow across the five cities. Their deep understanding of the Indian travel trade and ability to create impactful connections with key stakeholders ensured that the event ran smoothly and achieved its objectives.

India’s increasing interest in long-haul destinations like New Zealand is indicative of a broader shift in outbound tourism, with more Indian travelers looking for destinations that offer distinct, high-quality experiences. General Travel New Zealand’s roadshow was an important step in enhancing the country’s presence in the competitive Indian travel market, positioning it as a preferred choice for Indian travelers. The event also demonstrated New Zealand’s commitment to adapting its offerings to the needs and desires of the Indian market, providing customized, flexible solutions for travelers across various demographics.

Looking ahead, General Travel New Zealand is optimistic about the future of Indian tourism to New Zealand, bolstered by the success of the roadshow. The initiative has further solidified New Zealand’s reputation as an aspirational and enriching destination for Indian travelers, with opportunities for continued growth. As India’s outbound tourism market continues to expand, New Zealand is poised to attract more Indian tourists seeking to explore its vibrant culture, stunning landscapes, and wide-ranging travel experiences.

The roadshow has proven that direct engagement with travel professionals in key markets like India is critical for strengthening destination knowledge, fostering new business opportunities, and ensuring that New Zealand remains at the forefront of Indian travelers’ minds. With more initiatives like this on the horizon, New Zealand is set to become an increasingly popular destination for Indian holidaymakers in the years to come.