A former regional press journalist who emigrated to New Zealand to set up a successful tourism publication is offering UK hacks the chance to follow in his footsteps.

Travel addict Nigel Coventry, who previously worked on the Oxford Mail and the Bucks Advertiser, has been running Inside Tourism from his home near the shores of Lake Taupo since 1994.

The weekly newsletter is required reading for anyone involved in travel and tourism in New Zealand and has won him a string of awards, most recently Pacific Asia Travel Association Journalist of the Year.

Now Nigel wants to hand it on to another British journalist – so long as they are prepared to travel 13,000 miles in search of work!

“Inside Tourism has provided me with a good living and a great way of life, but I’m 63 now and want to use some of my time in other ways, so Inside Tourism is on the market to anyone who wants a lifestyle change,” he said.

“There are lots of truly interesting interviews and travel opportunities to discover the real talking points of travel and tourism, and that’s part of the Inside Tourism package.

“It needs someone who is prepared to live inside the industry here, take a real interest in it, and report it accurately and fairly.

“I’ve had a great time and a lot of fun doing it and I want the publication and my contacts to go to a journalist who will be equally enthusiastic.”

The newsletter circulates by email to an estimated 4,500 readers in New Zealand and 14 other countries.

John Key, the incoming New Zealand Prime Minister, gave Nigel an exclusive interview last month because Key regards tourism as such a vital moneymaker that he has also appointed himself tourism minister.

Nigel is prepared to sell the newsletter as a straight transaction, or as a stage deal whereby he stays for an agreed handover period as an adviser to show the new owner the ropes. He points out that New Zealand property prices and the cost of living are much lower than the UK while exchange rates are favourable.

The Inside Tourism website is at www.insidetourism.com and Nigel can be contacted for full details via [email protected]

Comments

Sean Hargrave (12/02/2009 10:14:56)
So, when you say ‘hacks’ (plural) being offered jobs… the chance to escape to NZ, what you basically mean is a guy who’s of retiring age is selling his business? Well done to him, not just on a great business, but getting you guys to do a huge marketing job on selling it for him. There’s no job or jobs here, just the chance to buy a newsletter.
Really misleading headline.

John Nurden (12/02/2009 10:25:25)
That’s a bit harsh Sean. Let’s face it, we both read it which is the whole point of a headline. Misleading? Well, there’s a job for at least one and it sould always be a job-share I guess…

BlondeAmbition (12/02/2009 10:49:58)
Um, can anyione read at all?! All journalists (that’s plural) are being offered the chance, the CHANCE, of a job, one job, singular. Anyone can go for it, the opportunity is not for only one person…. but the job is.

Col Kurtz (12/02/2009 11:50:16)
Sean Sean Sean, how many of your sort I have come across in my time.
Your sort is invariably a sub with little or no social skills and and chip on you shoulder the size of Everest.
Grow up sunshine.

Cornelius Atweasle (12/02/2009 12:08:11)
Subs may have no social skills, but how many of us have laughed at your double “and”. We’ll grow up when you can string a sentence together.

Brick (12/02/2009 12:13:33)
LOOOOOUUUUD NOOOOIISES!!!!

Newsbuff (12/02/2009 12:16:38)
Couldn’t agree more with what Sean said. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

Heather (12/02/2009 13:16:40)
Hey, what a great idea! I have a job for any hack who wants to move to Paris and buy my tourism newsletter (which has more subscribers than Nigel’s). In fact, if a bunch of you get together you can pool your money and create more “jobs”. Maybe then I’ll have enough money to move to New Zealand and buy me a job there. 😉