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In a huge achievement for local tourism, Taupō has earned a deserved spot in the Top 10 Most Welcoming Cities on Earth, announced by Booking.com’s 13th annual Traveller Review Awards.
A beloved holiday hotspot, this award demonstrates that Taupō’s charm is extends beyond domestic travellers.
Playing alongside destinations in Italy, Colombia, and the United Kingdom, Taupō’s inclusion in this list highlights its ability to consistently punch above its weight.
Melissa Ellison, area manager for Booking.com, shared some insights into what makes Taupō so special.
“Taupō has something to offer everyone. You could have a day by the lake and just chill out, or you could go for an adrenaline rush thrill. And we know that for international tourists, it’s a great destination because you can land into Auckland and then do the scenic trip, road trip down to Taupō.” she says.
“So I think it’s a great destination, and I’m really pleased that it’s been highlighted this year. The Booking.com Traveller Review Awards, these are recognising our partners for world-class hospitality and Taupō specifically has been recognised as one of the world’s most welcoming destinations. This is from the sheer number and quality of reviews that they received over the last year from a combination of homes and baches, hotels, motels—we’re even recognising taxis and rental cars.”
Emphasising the broader impact of this recognition, Melissa says, “What this means for Taupō and even New Zealand a little bit more broadly is that we’ll be promoting both the region and our partners on a global scale to a global audience.”
So what’s the key to Taupō’s success? according to Melissa, it lies in the collaboration among local businesses, accommodation providers, and community.
“The key to any fantastic trip or experience is when all segments of the tourism ecosystem work harmoniously together, and Taupō is a great example of this.” she said.
“At Booking.com, we have a local partner services team who are based in New Zealand, and they support our accommodation partners. They also work with tourism organisations like Love Taupō, and that’s to ensure that we’re best placed to attract any demand that’s coming either domestically or internationally. And I think it’s important to know that the awards are based on verified customer reviews, and this means that we’re really highlighting Taupō on a global scale as a really desirable destination to come to.”
As for the local economy, Melissa says there are potential opportunities.
“This is Booking.com’s 13th year of doing the Traveller Review Awards and also the most welcoming destinations, and we promote it across every market in every region in the world. For Taupō and New Zealand more broadly, this is putting a spotlight on the region, and it’s come at a really timely moment when international travel into New Zealand is coming back to where we saw pre-pandemic levels at.” she says.
“We know that attracting international travellers and driving demand to New Zealand is really important, and it requires everyone to work as one across the sector. For example, the recent changes to the digital nomad visas is an additional reason why now is a great time for us to be putting a spotlight on our region, and our team is really excited to get out and celebrate these amazing achievements with the partners.”
