Should New Zealand have a Chinese hotel? PM's comment sparks debate
Huge.
That's the potential to New Zealand from Chinese tourism, Prime Minister John Key says.
In 2012, Chinese tourists boosted the economy by an estimated $651 million, with 208,704 Chinese visiting in the year ended February 2013, a 37.7% increase on the previous period.
As the high dollar makes a long-haul trip less attractive for North American and European tourists, it seems the next wave of tourism growth will come from Asia generally and China, in particular.
As reported in this week's National Business Review print edition, this growth potential has prompted Mr Key to call for a Chinese hotel to be built in New Zealand.
He says New Zealand has to tailor its tourism offerings and be smarter about how they are marketed to attract higher-value tourists.
Of Chinese tourists he says: "Speaking to them in Japanese and thinking they can understand us isn't going to work."
The prime minister's office is yet to clarify whether Mr Key meant a Chinese-owned or Chinese-themed hotel.
However, the very idea of a kind-of cultural oasis for tourists – bringing their culture to this country to make them feel more comfortable, obviating the need for them to be ensconced in ours – has sparked debate about the future face of Asian-facing tourism.
NZ lacks capacity
Associate Professor David Robb, of the University of Auckland's New Zealand Asia Institute, says Chinese tourists are generating large revenues for the New Zealand service sector and the economy generally.
Writing to NBR ONLINE by email from China, he says this country is lacks capacity for the overall tourist market, with further spend needed in infrastructure and the service sector, especially at the top end.
"It would be a marvellous – and I suspect ingenious – display of hospitality to reflect some of the culture of one's visitors in one's facilities, or at least one's services."
Dr Robb, director of the institute's China studies centre, says tourism workers could make more of an effort to greet visitors in their native language.
But does New Zealand risk being turned into some kind of theme park? A bad parody at the bottom of the Pacific?
"Of course many Chinese – probably most – would still opt for a more 'authentic' New Zealand experience, and if done or located poorly, any hotel may be quite negative to non-Chinese tourists and New Zealanders – not to mention the possibility of it becoming a white elephant if the Chinese market dried up for some reason."
Associate Professor Manuka Henare, associate dean of Maori and Pacific development at the University of Auckland Business School, tells NBR ONLINE a Chinese branded and totally Chinese-oriented hotel would essentially be a cultural bypass.
Why travel all this way to be surrounded by the same language, food and culture?
The answer, Dr Henare says, is for New Zealand to build more high-quality facilities – which Chinese tourists are used to – and a "real" hotel chain with multiple locations.
"The initial encounter with Maori culture, through the staff and architecture of the chain, would provide an authentic and welcome introductory exposure to the roots of New Zealand culture.
"This initial exposure to Maori will encourage some visitors to seek out a deeper encounter with Maori culture through additional activities."
That means more tills ringing in other parts of the tourism sector, which employs about one in 10 New Zealanders.
Firming bond
New Zealanders and Chinese alike are noticing a firming bond between the countries: a free trade agreement leading to greater two-way trade, Fonterra farms in China and Chinese dairy factories being built here.
Dr Robb seeds the idea of a Kiwi-themed hotel in China.
What would that look like? Furnished with life-sized Buzzy Bees, with Marmite on tap and free jandals at the door?
Seriously, though, what a chance to showcase the finer Kiwi the rising Chinese middle class are sure to enjoy – the best of our sumptuous meats and wine, washed down with a sophisticated offering of Kiwi music.
Returning to the idea of a Chinese hotel in New Zealand, Dr Robb says perhaps the most appropriate place for it would be in downtown Auckland.
That would make sense.
Powershop's Mao Zedong ad was banned from being displayed on bus shelters by an authoritarian Auckland Transport in case it offended the local Chinese population.
Surely a Chinese-themed hotel would be more palatable.
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Comments and questions35
Good discussion and debate - NZ is growing up to be able to discuss this in a rational rather than xenophobic manner.
In the final analysis however, why should a China theme hotel be a problem? The Americans and British built hotel and accommodation facilities right around the globe to give home comforts - why is it any different for the Chinese?
Why not? We already have Chinese suburbs, Epsom, Howick, etc. Maybe Key should be concerned more about that.
Just the sort of racist BS I'd expect from an NBR reader.
Not racist. Open your eyes.
Aren't the Chow brothers building one opposite Sky City ?
Yes, and for a dose of American culture, everyone is invited to the White House in Auckland's Queen St?
We should stop the fawning...New Zealanders cannot own land in China, nor there have there been any hotels set up in Chinese to cater for colonies of Westerners.
Little by little we are being commercially colonised by (essentially Communist) China). There is no privately fronted Chinese investment company, for example, which does not operate without the permission and in most cases the financial investment, of the Chinese Communist Party, with its corrupt multiillionaires controlling it.
The Chinese Ambassador in New Zealand recently had the gall to suggest that New Zealand and China combine in military exercises within the Pacific and what's more, our appallingly ignorant or else venal government it probably seriously considering this.
With Communist China!! How stupid are we...They apparently think so...
Meanwhile, China continues to ruthlessly imprison, torture, and kill its own dissidents and the unfortunate Tibetans, fighting to retain their own culture, in their own country. They are still burning themselves to death because of this.
Ignoring the barbarism of China, and the reality of its increasing encroachment on the Pacific - so that we do not even mount an effective protest against these atrocities (Jenny Shipley even had a bus moved to block protesters from the sight of a sulking Chinese delegation, rudely holding up the dinner of its hosts) is akin to the way the West averted its gaze from the horror of the Nazi concentration camps.
John Key is a dead loss - pragmatism rules...but without politics of integrity a country is sold out.
Excuse me. I refer to your first comment about hotels NOT being set up in China to cater for colonies of Westerners. ABSOLUTELY they have. When I first went to China as a tourist in 1990 there were VERY few western aspects at all and although my trip was absolutely fabulous it had its intimidating bits - because I wasn't used to living and breathing Chinese culture and food 24 hours a day. Now in any city in China there are hotels and facilities absolutely to cater to colonies of Westerners. Somebody realised that if they were to attract Westerners that taking them completely out of their comfort zone wasn't going to be totally sensible. So why can't we offer it the other way around. Why are we so arrogant that we think the Western way is the only way
Wow - which hole did you poke your head out of Cassandra. Lets just face some reality checks:-
China is a growth market, with nearly 80 cities now exceeding our total population, and with a population now having wealth and increasing freedom to travel and spend.
We would be mugs not to look at catering to their 1.6 billion. If we can get 0.1% to visit us annually we would near double our tourist numbers.
World War 3 is over - South east Asia won and the American and Europeans lost what turned out to be a commercial war. Lets get on with life and cater to the requirements of the new Super Powers - China, India, and Indonesia.
I don't mind if you keep burying your head in the sands, I don't mind if you live forever in the pasts, but it is absolutely right that people like you in this country are negative assets. Although living in an island, you still have the choice of not being narrow minded.
Hopefully Casandra, you are not old enough to vote. Your comments speak volumes about your imaturity!
Cassandra is on the money. EVERY auction for Epsom property has Asians who are cash rich out bidding locals. And Key's turns a blind eye. And then the twits in power suggest they can burst the housing bubble by raising the deposit that buyers must have? Hello, what planet are they on. The only people who should be allowed to buy property in NZ should be those with citizenship. It's time we looked after our own, instead of selling out to immigrants who often add nothing, and are a drain on infrastructure when they bring their extended aging relatives with them. Xenophobia? No, simply facts.
And why are they cash rich?
Because they work hard, save hard and plan for the future.
Kiwis put their money in finance companies to be squandered by other Kiwis - billions and billions of dollars which would out-bid any Asian buyer.
Suck on that one, Richard.
Then, suck on a lemon.
They are cash rich because they owned / managed industries that provided the western world with goods. Now they are bringing their money to NZ, Oz, Canada and the US setting up boltholes, knowing that before long the Chinese government will stop them doing this. They are not your average Chinese. Bear in mind that millionaires in HongKong are a dime a dozen, there are so many. Billionares stand out. An apartment in Stanley Bay costs many million, cash up, come to NZ and they can buy anything they like. Ask yourself whether you want your children competing with people who have no intention of integrating or contributing, but have the ability to buy many houses in one hit? What chance will you or your children have of buying anything in Auckland 10 years from now? Not scare mongering, just stating it as it is.
So it was okay for Americans and Westerners to bid up prices of assets but not Chinese?
An apartment in New York, London or Zurich cost even more millions, just as in HK and Shanghai. What is your point?
Have the Pacific Islanders really integrate and contribute, by your measure?
The point is clear. You cannot buy property in China, so why let them buy here. Google it. You can only lease.
Have you ever been to China? They have plenty of western hotels, food and shopping outlets and a growing number of Chinese can also speak passable English.
I cant disagree with your rant on human rights but raising the communist reds under the bed mentality is just immature and silly.
Cassandra. Not sure if you have been to China (I assume not). If you do, you will note most hotels are western chains, with English speaking staff, signage and menus. Same applies to shops and restaurants etc... If we value China as a market, the least we could do is extend even a little of the same to them.
Yup, totally second that. With their English street signs and US chain hotels, The Beijing and Shanghai CBDs are more Anglicised than any Western city is "Asian-ified."
I stayed at a Best Western in Beijing that billed itself as the world's largest hotel in the chain. You could certainly describe it as a western oasis - though a pretty dull one. Couldn't imagine why anyone would stay there beyond low budget business travel. Though I guess that's a market, and it's a sensible option for NZ to offer in a world of two-way trade where much of Fonterra's future hinges on its investments (through partners) in Chinese farms, and the Chinese market as a whole.
Yeah, why not? And the bar and bistro, underneath, can have an Anglicised name; with Chinese flavour..
"Mouse See Tongue"
"Why travel all this way to be surrounded by the same language, food and culture?"
Spoken like someone whose language, food and culture are so international that they can only exist in one county.
I worked as an HR manager for InterContinental Hotel Group
in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China for 4 years, and have taught university there as a visiting professor for 2 semesters.
We had far more mainland Chinese guests than "Western"
guests at our hotels. You do not need to build a "Chinese cultural" hotel to satisfy Chinese tourists. You do need service staff who speak Mandarin and Cantonese and some authentic Chinese food on the buffets and menus, and a Chinese-language Service Guide and menus. Simple hospitality and
thoughtful customer relations practices.
Finally some common sense rather than ignorant xenophobia! Thank you! I would also add that we need to have Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai friendly immigration arrival/departure cards in NZ. It is a simple thing but makes a huge difference.
Um let's just think about it for a minute.
Our biggest hotel owners who have employed some 2-3,000 kiwis for 20 odd years are not quite mainland Chinese but no doubt once were.
That of course is the Hong Leong Group out of Singapore who own the Millenium, Copthorne and CDL chains in NZ and picked em up largely at bargain basement prices after the stock market crash of the late 80's.
Now they own a billion dollars or so of our hotel industry with zero debt.
Then we already have Indonesian interests who have owned one of Auckland's largest hotels for more than 2 decades or so.
In Dunedin Chinese interests are doing their best to get a Resource Consent to build a new 5 star hotel and in Auckland the same might apply to the undeveloped Elliott Tower site.
So in terms of Chinese ownership of the newest hotels in NZ well one does not need to be a rocket scientist to work out that it is simply a matter of time.In fact time, energy ,sweat equity, money, and a whole lot of hard work to get this sort of undertaking out of the ground However, I'm not so sure if a Chinese themed hotel is what the Chinese owners have in mind as such. In fact I think these new proposed hotels would cater for any tourists who wanted to visit our little nation and can afford a little bit of luxury. Given that China is the largest growing source of tourism it probably would make sense to have fluent Cantonese and Mandarin speaking staff at these hotels.
Although a lot of Chinese tourists prefer 3 star accommodation so nothing is quite that simple.
As to some of the other comments above...get a grip or move to the Chathams or... Just whatever !
Will Key stop dancing around the issue and come out and say it: New Zealand needs a Hobbit-themed Chinese-language hotel
No doubt the posters here will be greeting the PLA as liberators when their troops march up Queen St.
Absolutely!
Similar to the likes of you marching to Vietnam to 'fight' with the yanks and kill babies.
And in 1979, China copied the West then too, invaded Vietnam and killed many Vietnamese and their babies. Of course the Chinese were forced to leave rather quickly with their tail between their legs after the Vietnamese gave the 'invincible Chinese' a rather good hiding.
Your retort, Dragon, is as embarrassing as it is ridiculous.
Does you no credit comparing a skirmish to deliberate targeting of whole countryside being bombed and napalmed indiscriminately as the Westerners did during the American War in Vietnam.
Weapons of Mass Destruction, anyone?
Nobody drops bombs and use womd as the Americans did and still do.
If there were foreign troops on NZ streets, these would be American, French (remember the boat exploded and people killed?) or Brits. Could you please tell me what the cannons at Devonport are for?
New Zealand already is a Chinese hotel
To complete the experience and for nostalgia, the hotel could be sited near the viaduct where there would be a flotilla of saipans as water taxis and guests would be transported by a fleet of rickshaws pulled by sandal-wearing coolies.
The Chinese visitors would lap that up, faster than a condemned moggie lapping up his last saucer of milk, I bet.
Sampan, not saipan.
Beijing whistles so John squats.
Now that you know that, be a good boy and go grow some grass to feed the animals.