A Northland dive company has scooped New Zealand’s top tourism prize – a win that could help diving become to Northland what whale-watching is to Kaikoura. Dive! Tutukaka won the Supreme Award at the…
A Northland dive company has scooped New Zealand’s top tourism prize – a win that could help diving become to Northland what whale-watching is to Kaikoura. Dive! Tutukaka won the Supreme Award at the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand Awards celebration dinner in Wellington, in front of a veritable who’s who of industry leaders.
A culmination of this year’s TIANZ Conference that focused on leadership, strength, consistency and quality in New Zealand’s leading export industry, the tribute was a reflection on a company that has put diving on the tourism map.
The country`s largest dive charter operation was developed by entrepreneur and conservationist Jeroen Jongejans and business partner Aussie Malcolm six years ago.
Located in Whangarei within the Northland district of New Zealand’s North Island, Dive! Tutukaka is a PADI Gold Palm Instructor Development Centre and National Geographic Dive Centre.
Jongejans said he was thrilled with the award, and was equally pleased the exposure would help to boost Northland`s reputation as New Zealand`s dive capital.
Success depends on maintaining a sustainable environment and providing a quality product, he said.
Diving might look like a niche industry, but there`s room for growth among other dive operators and all Northland tourism as long as those standards are applied.
Dive! Tutukaka had been a finalist in the New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards four times and had won other industry awards, he said, but not the big one. Sitting alongside the tourism sector`s biggest and best had been reward enough.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the company deserved to win. It offers a range of adventure tourism experiences for visitors and has a strong focus on conservation. This is the type of tourist operator we`ll need in the future, she said.
Enterprise Northland chief executive Brian Roberts said it would be hard to put a dollar value on Dive! Tutukaka`s win, but it was something Northland should celebrate.
The award gives the whole region bragging rights, he said. It will also have a huge morale-building effect on Dive! Tutukaka staff as well as other companies striving to excel.
Jongejans has pushed for expanding the world-famous Poor Knights Marine Reserve into a larger park and has called for the islands to be recognised as a World Heritage Park.
Tourism Industry Association chief Fiona Luhrs said Dive! Tutukaka epitomised a successful venture, focusing on customer service, sustainability and profitability.
It is the vivid experiences of activities such as diving in a world-class subtropical dive spot that helps to draw in international visitors.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
