Tourist radio hits nz airwaves
It's always better to visit a new country with
someone who knows their way around and someone who can take you to all those
beautiful places off the tourist trail. Now, with the launch of Tourism Radio,
you can have your very own tour guide to show you around New Zealand...
The new radio station, which launches this month, is a virtual tour guide and likened to ‘having a couple of friendly locals in the back seat.'
Tourism Radio was originally started in Cape Town, South Africa in 2005 and is now hitting New Zealand's shores, aimed at those who want to navigate their own way around New Zealand, rather than be beholden to regimented coach tours and bossy tour-guides.
Combining unique software with GPS technology, the station broadcasts content in real time relative to the location of the listeners, so it will always be offering relevant and timely information.
Tourism Radio will include around 1600 points of interest all over the country and 80 hours of programming - highlighting any landmarks and places of interest in whichever place you happen to be driving through at that moment.
It also airs fun and informative radio shows on topics like New Zealand slang, local music, 20 questions a tourist would like to ask a New Zealander and much more.
Tourism Radio's unique IntelliPoint system overrides other
broadcasts to play immediately relevant information. The hardware is fitted onto
the windscreen of rental cars and transmits the programming directly to the
car's radio, so it's very easy to use.
Already, many local car rental agencies are keen to get their hands on the
latest travel must-have. Firms already signed up include JUCY Rentals, Go
Rentals, Kiwi Campers, Kiwi Autohomes, Spaceships and Pegasus Rentals. Many
more are expected to sign on in early 2009.
Mark Allewell, Chief Operating Officer of Tourism Radio International, said, "We all know that locals have great stories, anecdotes and personal history about the areas that they grew up in.
"Most tourists want this kind of information about their destination as they travel," he added.
Hayden Braddock, Tourism Radio Managing Director for New Zealand and Australia, says the programmes on Tourism Radio have been written to capture the essence of the country using common phrases and kiwi slang for an authentic listening experience.
"Tourism Radio is a fantastic way for tourists to get a
feeling for what New Zealand
is all about. It's like having ten locals in the car with you, all pointing out
their favourite spots and chipping in their two cents worth," he says.
"It's the targeted content of Tourism radio that makes it such a great way to
reach the right audience because any content broadcast is relative to the
driver's location at that time - so you can direct them where to stop for a
quick bite to eat or where to hang their hat for the night.
"The level of enthusiasm from advertisers has been matched by the Regional
Tourism Organisations - 29 local government funded bodies responsible for
marketing their regions domestically and internationally.
"The response from the Regional Tourism Organisations contacted has been really
positive, with the majority all having indicated a strong interest in
supporting and promoting Tourism Radio in their region," added Mr Braddock.
So, what are you waiting for? Tune in and get traveling!
Picture by cote