Did You Really Mean To Sign Up To That?

Published in Inside Tourism, Issue 942, 15 August 2013

We see increasing numbers of New Zealand SME owner operators compromising their livelihoods by entering into tough and inflexible contracts with their service providers. The terms imposed are frequently onerous and the costs of escaping the contract are considerable. Let's take a hypothetical example: An operator enters into a 10 year contract with an agent that controls the advertising space in, for example, a provincial airport.

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New Global Trademark Clearinghouse For Expanding Domain Space Launched

Every domain name has a top level domain which is the root zone of the name space (for example .com or .nz).

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the non profit organisation responsible for the domain name system for Internet addresses, is in the process of dramatically expanding the number of available top-level domains from 280 to nearly 2000.

Many of the new top level domains will correspond with generic terms. For example, .food, .clothing, .tech, .hotel, .equipment, .legal are amongst the first few hundred of applications currently being assessed by ICANN.

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Your Responsibility For Third-Party-Generated Content

Published in Inside Tourism, Issue 936, 3 July 2013

YOU may be using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or other social media channels to promote your business. You could just be retweeting positive tweets made by customers about your service.

You need to be aware that any third-party comments presented on your social media pages that refer to your business may be your responsibility under the law, even though you have not directly created them.

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New Tourism Markets - Part 2

Published in Inside Tourism, Issue 927, 2 May 2013

John Key's recent visit to China and the subsequent announcement of investment to facilitate visitors shows how difficult getting to New Zealand can be for those from non visa waiver countries like China. It also shows current risk management methods in the visa application process are counter-productive when trying to enhance tourism with non visa waiver countries with whom we have trade deals.

Citizens of non visa waiver countries must obtain a visa before arriving in New Zealand. It is not simply a case of filling out the requisite form, showing proof of an itinerary and enough funds for the stay. Under current visa instructions, meeting these mandatory requirements is not in itself a reason to approve a visa application.

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New Tourism Markets

Published in Inside Tourism, Issue 923, 4 April 2013

The PM's recent visit to Latin America was intended to garner support for a place on the UN Security Council and for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and further economic development and co-operation. However it is unclear how the TPP (or any trade agreement) is likely to enhance tourism.

According to the Department of Labour (now Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment) the tourism sector employs one out of ten people in the workforce. Spending by tourists contributed $9.7 billion to our economy to the year to 31 March 2011. Tourism generated $1.7 billon in GST revenue and adds $36 million per day to our economy. It is an important industry, with the potential for further growth through new markets.

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"Kiwi" Domain Names Can Fly

Published in Inside Tourism, Issue 919, 7 March 2013

The opportunity to use "kiwi" as their second level domain name is the first concrete example of how the domain name system is changing for New Zealand businesses.

Domain names are the way the Internet is organised, navigated and understood. Your domain name is one of the most effective and affordable ways to promote your brand and maximize online visibility.

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