HLM -Chapter 1238 The New Zealand Tourism Association

Moreover, compared with other business jets, this aircraft has a particularly significant advantage: its climb performance is superior, allowing it to take off from relatively short runways.

This perfectly suits the special conditions of Sunset Town Airport. After all, what Wang Bo owns is just a small airport with only one extra-long runway. However, that runway is frequently needed by airliners flying in from several major cities, so the opportunities left for his own use are not many.

In addition, the Lier 40XR business jet boasts high fuel efficiency and comes with advanced flight control systems and airframe architecture, maximizing convenience for both piloting and maintenance. This also fits Wang Bo’s situation—he does not have highly specialized pilots and still needs to recruit them.

Wang Bo looked over the aircraft’s configuration. The cabin was fitted with seven spacious leather seats, with most of the interior designed as a small lounge. At the rear were a kitchenette and a restroom, fully equipped.

As for the price, it fell into the mid-range category, just over ten million New Zealand dollars. European Helicopters happened to be cooperating with them at the moment, so Cato could apply through the company to make the purchase via European Helicopters, saving a considerable amount of money.

Wang Bo decisively paid the deposit. This was the aircraft he wanted.

The agent informed him, “Business jets only enter production after an order is placed. That’s much slower than helicopters, which only require interior fitting, so you may need to wait a bit longer.”

Wang Bo asked, “How long will that be?”

The agent shrugged. “It may take about four months before it can be delivered to your residence.”

Wang Bo nodded. “That’s fine.”

Coincidentally, about five months later Eva would be close to giving birth. If they needed to fly to Auckland for the delivery, this aircraft would come in handy.

In a single weekend, Wang Bo took care of his wife’s prenatal checkups and finalized the purchase of two aircraft, then returned smoothly. In just two days, he spent close to twenty million New Zealand dollars.

But he didn’t mind. After the airport was completed, Middle Eastern tycoons began selecting high-quality breeding males and females from Sunset Ranch to be sent to the Safi Ranch, bringing him substantial income.

Wang Bo let them choose freely and promised that within one year, no matter what problems arose with the livestock, they could return them and exchange for breeding females.

Of course, he didn’t cover the transportation costs.

The Safi Ranch was overjoyed by these terms. The breeding stock from Sunset Ranch was extremely valuable, and with this exchange guarantee, they could proceed boldly and without worry.

Over these past few years, relying on various side incomes along with real estate and ranch operations, Wang Bo had accumulated a net worth of five hundred million.

Recently, Sunset Town’s tourism industry had begun to show explosive growth. In fact, as long as a car drove onto Highway No. 8, he would earn money. Sunset Town had successfully completed its mission—it had become Wang Bo’s money-making machine.

Even better, at this very moment, a tourism organization came knocking.

Although New Zealand is a major tourism country, the government does not impose any licensing restrictions on tourism companies.

In other words, anyone can register a New Zealand company with tourism or tourists as its service target and revenue source, and operate and promote it under the name of a tourism company. This is neither illegal nor improper.

However, New Zealand’s major travel agencies have voluntarily formed an industry self-regulatory association. Its name is the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand, abbreviated as TAANZ.

The person who came to Sunset Town was one of TAANZ’s leaders, a member of its board of directors—Ricky Rudolph, a gentleman approaching eighty years old.

TAANZ was founded in 1962. Although Ricky Rudolph was not one of the founders, he was an early board member and enjoyed enormous prestige throughout New Zealand’s tourism industry.

When Wang Bo first saw him, he looked just like an ordinary elderly tourist, wearing a brightly colored beach T-shirt and sunglasses, strolling along the roadside.

The two happened to meet at the entrance of a cold-drink shop. At this time of year, such shops were packed at all hours, with long lines of people waiting at the window for their drinks.

Naturally, Wang Bo didn’t need to line up. Nor did he care if anyone accused him of using his privileges. He walked straight inside and said to the drink maker behind the counter, Bill Duntai, “Give me an ice-cold sparkling soda. Damn this weather—my skin is about to roast.”

At that moment, he noticed Ricky Rudolph heading toward the queue. Seeing an old man standing in line under the scorching sun seemed rather pitiful, so Wang Bo nodded at him and said, “Hey, buddy, what would you like? I’ll order for you.”

Someone nearby booed jokingly, “Mayor Wang, abusing your privileges again!”

Wang Bo slapped a fifty-dollar bill onto the counter. “Look, I’m paying. That means it’s not a privilege.”

The old man smiled and walked over. “Are you treating me to a drink?”

Wang Bo said, “If you say something that makes me happy, I’m willing to treat you.”

The old man replied, “TAANZ is preparing to include Sunset Town in New Zealand’s key tourism projects. It may recommend this destination to all tourism agencies under its umbrella.”

For a moment, Wang Bo didn’t even react. “TAANZ? Who’s that?”

Hearing this, the old man gave a wry smile. “Hearing you say that puts me at ease. I was worried you’d recognized me and were deliberately bribing me with a drink.”

That startled Wang Bo. He quickly leaned closer and whispered to Bill Duntai, “Bill, who is this gentleman? Damn it, is he some famous person in New Zealand?”

Bill Duntai looked completely confused. “I don’t know him.”

The old man hadn’t heard their whispering. He proactively extended his hand and said, “Hello, Mayor Wang. I’m Ricky Rudolph.”

Hearing the name—“Rudolph” wasn’t a particularly common surname—and linking it with the name TAANZ, Wang Bo immediately showed a look of surprise. “My God, the TAANZ you mentioned wouldn’t happen to be that TAANZ, would it?”

“Possibly,” the old man said with a smile. “As far as I know, there’s only one TAANZ in New Zealand.”

This was a distinguished guest. Wang Bo hurriedly invited Rudolph to sit down. There were no empty seats in the drink shop, so he invited the old gentleman to sit inside behind the counter.

TAANZ is an alliance, or rather a platform. Any tourism organization that wishes to join TAANZ—whether a travel agency, a travel broker, or an actual tour operator—must commit to providing services that are high-standard, high-quality, safe and reliable, and professionally delivered.

It enforces a strict review system on all members. Those that fail to meet the standards cannot join, and once admitted, membership represents access to enormous resources.

TAANZ’s review process is rigorous, yet this does nothing to dampen tourism organizations’ enthusiasm to join.

Because once part of the alliance, with its coordination and support, members can share potential business opportunities and resources with other thriving enterprises.

Moreover, members can mark themselves as TAANZ members in their marketing materials and on their websites, earning greater recognition and trust from consumers.