While most destinations encourage tourists to visit their hotels, restaurants and attractions, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) wants more travelers to go through the airport.

"Nearly half a million people fly annually between San Francisco and New Zealand and Australia," said SFO's Deputy Director Kandace Bender. "But most of those passengers are flying to SFO to stop in San Francisco. We want people to choose SFO even if they are flying on to others parts of the U.S."

To win over more Kiwi travellers, SFO is launching a local marketing campaign, "I Wanna Go Through SFO," aimed at raising the airport's profile as a gateway to other U.S. destinations. The campaign reminds New Zealand travellers of the appeals of connecting through San Francisco.

"Connecting is much easier at SFO. All of our terminals are 'under one roof,'" Ms Bender said. "We have the largest international terminal in North America packed with restaurants, shops and spa services - along with the latest baggage screening technology and a Customs facility that can process 5,000 passports per hour."

SFO and Auckland International Airport (AKL) have partnered to feature SFO's campaign on outdoor and in-airport advertising in Auckland next month. Auckland destination and airport advertising, provided by Tourism Auckland, currently appears in SFO's International Terminal.

Social and viral media promote the SFO campaign and the Airport's online communities on: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Wanna-Go-Through-SFO/282774097167 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSFOAirport and @SFOgal on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SFOGAL

S-F-O

About San Francisco International Airport SFO (www.flysfo.com) was named Best Airport in North America by Skytrax, the aviation industry's leading independent research organisation, based on passenger feedback research. The airport offers nonstop connections to 65 U.S. destinations on 20 domestic airlines. Further, 29 international carriers serve another 30 international destinations on five continents nonstop. SFO was the third fastest growing airport in the world in 2008 and has added 17 airlines in the last six years.