Peter Jackson�s �The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King� continues to draw accolades from the film and entertainment industry, movie-goers to the box office, and now Hobbit fans to New Zealand. The movie that has swept the entertainment industry, dominating this week�s Golden Globe award show, made box office history, earning $14.2 million going into its fourth week of release, can now also add leading travel trends to its list of accolades.

Companies such as Contiki Holidays, the worldwide leader in vacations for 18- to 35-year-olds, have experienced more than a 20 percent increase in demand for trips to New Zealand versus last year�s figures due to the surge of Hobbit fans wanting to see first-hand where the trilogy was filmed.

�We�ve definitely seen the effects of the blockbuster movie �The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King� injecting interest in New Zealand travel,� said Lisa Wooldridge, Vice President, Marketing for Contiki. �At Contiki we pride ourselves in offering the types of vacations our customers demand.�

Contiki�s New Zealand tours include stops at many locations that appear in the movie. In an effort to help promote travel to this popular destination, Contiki is also offering limited time special deals to New Zealand when travel is booked by February 25, 2004. �Rings� fans can take advantage of this promotion to see just why Peter Jackson, the trilogy�s director, felt New Zealand�s mountains, marshes, plains and forests best represented Middle Earth.

Travelers can choose from up to six different Contiki New Zealand adventures. For instance, the Scenic Southern (seven days from $499) visits Wellington (Bree, The Shire, Moria, Weathertop, and Wellington -- the location of Peter Jackson�s production studio, Queenstown (Lothlorien), Te Anau (The Dead Marshes), Milford Sound (Nen Hithoel, Amon Hen, Fangorn Forest), Arrowtown (location of Frodo�s flight from the Nazgul) and the Southern South Island including Mount Cook (Misty Mountains).

Northern Highlights (six days from $430) tours Waikato Valley (Hobbiton) and Tongariro National Park (Emyn Muil, Mordor and Mount Doom) on New Zealand�s North Island. Contiki�s Grand Adventurer (12 days from $745) and Grand Explorer (14 days from $915) stop at all of the previously mentioned locations on both the North and South islands. Prices are based on per person, land-only.

More On Air New Zealand Promotion: When booking a trip, travelers must mention "Save $200 to New Zealand" or "Fourth Flies Free" promotion. The offer is valid on all new New Zealand "Fly n' Tours" trips booked and paid in full by February 25, 2004. Travel must be completed by June 24, 2004. Flights must be confirmed on Air New Zealand in select class of service from all US gateways to select New Zealand gateways. Prices are based on air from Los Angeles; add-ons from other U.S. cities apply. Travelers should check the Contiki South Pacific brochure for details. Tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable. Offer subject to availability. Other restrictions apply.

About Contiki: With Contiki, passengers are grouped with other like-minded travelers their own age (18- to 35-year-olds) from all over the world. Tours are led by young, experienced tour managers and drivers who are knowledgeable about the top attractions, as well as many out-of-the-way spots in each city.

Contiki�s tours include airfare, transportation, accommodations, many meals and sightseeing as well as a professional tour manager and driver throughout. Because availability is limited, Contiki recommends that travelers book early. Contiki will match solo travelers with same-sex roommates to avoid single supplements. Additionally, Contiki offers a variety of group discounts to help travelers save even more money. Groups of 10 or more will receive a free eleventh trip or 10 percent off for everyone in the group, groups of seven or more will receive a seven and half percent discount per person and groups of four or more people will receive a five percent discount per person. All passengers must be booked together for the same trip.

In business for more than 40 years, Contiki offers more than 100 escorted tours to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America, all specially designed for 18- to 35-year-olds. For more information and a free Contiki brochure, consumers should see their travel agent, call toll-free at 1-888-CONTIKI or log onto www.contiki.com.

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Media Contact: Kathrina Calbes Contiki Holidays (714) 935-0808 ext. 5165 kcalbes@contiki.com