The Chinese-developed app WeChat is used by over one billion active users every month for messaging, social media, and mobile payments.
Now, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) has developed an Auckland city experience guide through WeChat to provide visitor information to Chinese tourists, with live-chat capabilities.
“China is New Zealand’s second largest visitor market, and for Auckland, Chinese visitors are the highest spenders in the visitor economy, contributing more than $960 million in tourism spend annually,” said Steve Armitage, general manager, Destination, ATEED.
“With Auckland’s new WeChat mini programme we are providing a platform for Auckland’s Chinese community to share their local knowledge, favourite experiences and love for their city with other local Chinese, and their friends and family in China.”
Armitage explained that while platforms like TripAdvisor and Facebook are popular with people seeking recommendations for food and locales to visit, they do not have the functionality for real-time chat.
“With our Auckland WeChat platform, people will be able to ask a question and get an immediate response from a local or see images of real people enjoying different experiences in Auckland, as opposed to marketing campaign material.”
