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isite New Zealand

isite New Zealand is our official visitor information network. There are over 50 isite Visitor Centres around New Zealand, which provide you with comprehensive, up-to-date information and a New Zealand-wide booking service for activities, attractions, accommodation and transport. 

Why use an isite?

  • Friendly staff who live locally and know the region inside out who are keen to share their experiences.
  • Locally owned and operated - your money is safe and stays local.
  • We're backed by Tourism New Zealand and local government - you can trust our advice.
  • We can get you the best price for activities, attractions, accommodation and transport and can find the ones best suited for your needs.
  • We are impartial - no selling you what's best for us, only what's good for you.
  • Your safety is paramount - we know how to prepare for any local activity.
  • We work closely with the Department of Conservation and know their parks, walks and accommodation from first-hand experience.
  • We have free maps and brochures you can take and displays you can interact with to better understand  our home.
  • All isites are Qualmark accredited which means we have been independently validated as a quality tourism business that delivers a quality experience.

 

Christchurch i-SITE

Many travellers wait until they arrive in a region to book parts of their holiday, including local transport, accommodation and activities. The isite Network provides a brand that is trusted by our visitors to provide good quality, useful and relevant information that is vital to ensuring these visitors have a safe, stress-free and rewarding New Zealand holiday.

Established in 1990 by the New Zealand Tourist Department (now Tourism New Zealand), there are now over 300 isite staff in over 50 Visitor Information Centres around New Zealand. Each year, these centres welcome over 3 million visitors from across New Zealand and around the world.

The isite brand is managed by Tourism New Zealand and accredited members must meet standards in staff training, professionalism and information technology.

The management, administration and marketing of isite New Zealand is largely funded through an annual grant from Tourism New Zealand and membership fees. The day-to-day running of individual centres is funded by booking fees, retail sales and other income, and supported by local government either directly or indirectly (through incorporated societies, trusts or Council controlled organisations).

isite New Zealand is the trading name for VIN Incorporated, an incorporated society that is controlled by Tourism New Zealand however each isite is individually owned and operated. You can contact us here.

Adding value to local economies

isites offer an excellent platform for local operators and service providers to promote and sell their businesses and for communities and regions to promote local events and public amenities.

Around 30% of all international holiday visitors to New Zealand use an isite and over half of these say that isites influenced their decision on what activity, transport or accommodation provider they used. Almost one third of all users actually made a booking at an isite.

Economic impact research conducted in 2015 highlighted the key role isite visitor centres play in unlocking visitor spending in the tourism sector. The report showed that:

  • For every $1 provided in funding, the network returns on average $8.70 in GDP;
  • The overall visitor spending facilitated and handled by the isite network is estimated at around $298.5m;
  • Around $109.3m of this spending can be directly
  •  attributed to the network and would not have taken place if the isites did not exist;
  • For every $1 of direct sales made by the isite network, there is $1.48 total additional spending in the wider economy;
  • The total net economic effect on GDP generated by the isite network to the New Zealand economy is estimated at $146.8 million; and
  • The economic effects support 2,200 job equivalents and return $90.2 million to households through income.

isite Visitor Centres also create significant social benefits to communities, offering employment opportunities and an important community facility that

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Displays local promotional material / brochures
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Encourages visitors to stay longer and experience more activities in the region
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Enhances visitor expenditure in the local area and region
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Assists visitors and locals during natural disasters and other challenging events

isite for New Zealand Businesses

We can help you get in front of customers and businesses to let them know about your product, service or experience.

Discover how we can help you
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