http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...p?story=468600

"Since the LOTR bandwagon began rolling, New Zealand has seen tourism rocket. While most countries struggled to attract travellers in the wake of the September 2001 attacks, spending by tourists in New Zealand grew by 75 per cent, to more than £2.3bn in 2003. Figures suggest tourism will next year outstrip the dairy industry to become the nation's biggest foreign money earner."


Well, I don't know about you but I feel like the Lord of the Rings character Gollum after a long haul transpacific in economy class. Now maybe the NZ government for its next tourism target can go after those high end FT MR's!

[This message has been edited by tcook052 (edited Nov 30, 2003).]