Tourism New Zealand/Handout via... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreWELLINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand is launching a new tourism campaign with Kiwi director and actor Taika Waititi to attract visitors after the sector was hammered by COVID-19 and border closures. Visitors from United States are a major target audience, said Rene de Monchy, chief executive for Tourism New Zealand. The film, shot in December 2022, will also play on social media platforms in Australia, Germany, the UK and parts of Asia. Prior to COVID and the closure of New Zealand's borders, international tourism was New Zealand's largest source of foreign exchange and accounted for about 5.5% of gross domestic product. ($1 = 1.6810 New Zealand dollars)Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Waititi, Jade Daniels, Taika Waititi, Rene de Monchy, we've, Lucy Craymer, Richard Chang Organizations: HBO, Tourism, Kiwi, Visitors, Tourism New, Zealand, Thomson Locations: Zealand, New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand, WELLINGTON, United States, Australia, Germany, Asia, Zealand's, Kaikoura, Auckland