Prime Minister opens Giant Rugby Ball in Tokyo
Wednesday October 28 2009
The Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has formally opened the New Zealand Rugby Ball Venue in Tokyo today.
The unique structure, sited next to the Tokyo Tower, will be open from 28 October to 3 November.
The opening united Japanese and New Zealand cultures, with a formal Māori miki whakatau, or welcome, which was responded to by a Shinto Priest carrying out a formal blessing.
"The Rugby World Cup is a huge opportunity for New Zealand tourism, and I am confident that many people who take the opportunity to experience this small taste of New Zealand in Tokyo will be inspired to experience the real thing in New Zealand in 2011," Mr Key said.
During the seven days the Ball is open, it will play host to a series of public and private events aimed at promoting New Zealand as a place to visit, work and do business with. It will also host functions which will showcase New Zealand cuisine.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton said the Ball had already proved its worth in Paris and London, gaining huge exposure for New Zealand as the next host of the Rugby World Cup in 2011.
During its last two outings in Paris and London 32,500 people have been inside the Ball to experience its tailor-made audio visual display promoting New Zealand. An estimated 300 million people around the world have seen media coverage of the Ball.
"The Ball has been a wonderful vehicle for promoting New Zealand so far and it remains an important element in New Zealand’s build up to the Rugby World Cup in just 741 days," Mr Hickton said.
"Arrivals from Japan have been declining for a number of years and we need high-profile public relations events like this to get noticed in what is a valuable market and prized market in New Zealand’s tourism mix," he added.
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