about
NZ = new zealand
N.Z. Tourism Looks to 'Samurai' for Boost
When the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai" hits theaters Dec. 5, executives at Warner Bros. won't be the only ones hoping the historical epic captures the attention of moviegoers around the globe.
That's because half a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, a New Zealand-based inbound tour company is banking on the film to generate interest in some of the exotic locales the picture showcases.
Believing that patrons of the movie -- which is set in feudal Japan but was shot largely in the western New Zealand province of Taranaki -- will be eager to see the lush mountain backdrops in person, Maori Journeys Ltd. is launching a tour package that highlights the film's settings.
The tour, dubbed "A Mountain Like Fuji," is available in two-, five- or seven-day packages beginning in December and features a blend of mountain and marine activities, state-of-the-art museums, world-famous parks and gardens, authentic Maori experiences and visits to several of the "Last Samurai" filming locations.
The idea for the "Samurai"-themed tour package was developed by Maori Journeys director James Heremaia, a veteran travel consultant and tour leader who has led excursions to North America, Australia and New Zealand. Encouraged by the attention the Taranaki locations received during the filming of "Samurai," as well as the response of visiting Japanese and American media during the production, Heremaia decided that the high-profile film could serve as a solid launch pad for a new tour.
"This movie gives us a great marketing tool to reach both the Japanese and American markets," Heremaia says. "There's not much we can do leading up to the film's release, but come December, when audiences can actually see the film, there will be a lot of attention on this region."
Although Warners has put millions of dollars of marketing muscle into promoting "Samurai" -- and by default, what's good for the movie should be good for the tour -- the studio is not actually affiliated with the Maori Journeys tour package. Still, it certainly hasn't hurt Heremaia's cause to have Cruise espousing the film's amazing locations during interviews.
"It's absolutely stunning, breathtaking," Cruise said at one "Samurai" press conference during production. "How could anyone not want to be here?"
Heremaia is so confident that the bright lights of Hollywood will help draw tourists to the New Zealand countryside, he is developing several other tours centered on movie locations. They include one that visits three sites used in the hit indie drama "Whale Rider" on New Zealand's East Coast and another that features visits to the legendary "Lord of the Rings" Hobbit village near Matamata.
When the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai" hits theaters Dec. 5, executives at Warner Bros. won't be the only ones hoping the historical epic captures the attention of moviegoers around the globe.
That's because half a world away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, a New Zealand-based inbound tour company is banking on the film to generate interest in some of the exotic locales the picture showcases.
Believing that patrons of the movie -- which is set in feudal Japan but was shot largely in the western New Zealand province of Taranaki -- will be eager to see the lush mountain backdrops in person, Maori Journeys Ltd. is launching a tour package that highlights the film's settings.
The tour, dubbed "A Mountain Like Fuji," is available in two-, five- or seven-day packages beginning in December and features a blend of mountain and marine activities, state-of-the-art museums, world-famous parks and gardens, authentic Maori experiences and visits to several of the "Last Samurai" filming locations.
The idea for the "Samurai"-themed tour package was developed by Maori Journeys director James Heremaia, a veteran travel consultant and tour leader who has led excursions to North America, Australia and New Zealand. Encouraged by the attention the Taranaki locations received during the filming of "Samurai," as well as the response of visiting Japanese and American media during the production, Heremaia decided that the high-profile film could serve as a solid launch pad for a new tour.
"This movie gives us a great marketing tool to reach both the Japanese and American markets," Heremaia says. "There's not much we can do leading up to the film's release, but come December, when audiences can actually see the film, there will be a lot of attention on this region."
Although Warners has put millions of dollars of marketing muscle into promoting "Samurai" -- and by default, what's good for the movie should be good for the tour -- the studio is not actually affiliated with the Maori Journeys tour package. Still, it certainly hasn't hurt Heremaia's cause to have Cruise espousing the film's amazing locations during interviews.
"It's absolutely stunning, breathtaking," Cruise said at one "Samurai" press conference during production. "How could anyone not want to be here?"
Heremaia is so confident that the bright lights of Hollywood will help draw tourists to the New Zealand countryside, he is developing several other tours centered on movie locations. They include one that visits three sites used in the hit indie drama "Whale Rider" on New Zealand's East Coast and another that features visits to the legendary "Lord of the Rings" Hobbit village near Matamata.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home