Ziptrek Launches Mandarin Tour - The Phoenix

Multi-award winning eco-tourism company Ziptrek Ecotours is launching a new Mandarin hosted tour, harnessing the increasing popularity of ziplining amongst the Chinese speaking market.

New Zealand’s original zipline tour company will be launching ‘Feng Huang Hua Suo Zhi Lu’ (凤凰滑索之旅) which translates into ‘Phoenix Zipline Journey’ from February 2 2015. The journey will be hosted entirely in Mandarin and incorporates four ziplines led by new Mandarin-speaking Ziptrek staff member Iris (张慧华).

Iris assisted with the naming of the tour as it was felt that the ‘Phoenix’ was relevant to Ziptrek’s eco-friendly approach to the environment and a respected and powerful ‘flying’ mythical creature in China.

The mythology behind the Phoenix rising from the ashes and coming back to life is also a good fit with Ziptrek’s sustainability philosophy.

The Queenstown-based company will initially offer the ‘Phoenix Zipline Journey’ which can be specially booked every week day at 3pm; a very timely addition to Queenstown offerings for Chinese New Year, the Year of the Sheep.

Ziptrek Ecotours director Trent Yeo said the number of Chinese visitors that had taken to the trees has doubled in the last year.

“I’ve travelled to China four or five times and I’ve noticed the amazing change in enthusiasm for adventure and activity in New Zealand,” he said.

“Ziplining is a wonderful introduction to the adventure tourism market which is rapidly growing in diversity and scale. Participation in everything on offer is something that tourism operators will notice”.

The pioneering eco-tourism company, currently celebrating its fifth anniversary year, is already very well equipped for Chinese speaking guests with brochures, a mobile site, and safety information all translated into Mandarin.

As a direct result of feedback from guests and booking agents, Ziptrek identified the need to employ a Chinese-speaking staff member to add a deeper understanding of the important messages and dialogue that are included as part of the nature based experience.

“Ziplining is already getting increasingly bigger in Asia, but guests from crowded cities like Beijing or Shanghai have would never have the serene experience of flying through our landscapes as they do in Queenstown,” said Mr Yeo.

“What really sets Ziptrek aside is the pristine, fresh and untouched mountainous environment we’re so lucky to be surrounded by in Queenstown.”

During its five-year journey, the company has proved no stranger to picking up prestigious environmental and business awards.

Ziptrek Ecotours won the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Award in 2010, and in 2012 won the ‘Tourism, Activities and Events’ category. In 2011 it received a Fairfax Media Sustainable 60 Award, and is also the only New Zealand zipline tour to be awarded the much sought-after Qualmark Enviro Gold standard for its commitment to sustainability and the environment. Most recently it was named Outdoors NZ Adventure Tourism Operator of the Year 2013.