Tourists flock to NZ in record numbers

Tourists flock to NZ in record numbers
By admin


A record 2.7 million overseas visitors touched down in New Zealand last year, providing a shot in the arm for retailers, tourism operators, the hospitality industry and the economy.

Tourism New Zealand estimates the extra 114,112 holiday makers last year from abroad spent $365 million.

In addition to a bumper year, December also recorded the highest number of arrivals in any month with 381,000 clearing immigration controls.

Tourism NZ chief executive Kevin Bowler says the growth for the year was driven by traditional long-stay markets and the biggest source of tourists – Australia.

The number of American tourists visiting was up 21.3% on a year earlier while the number of arrivals from Australia, Canada and Germany also grew strongly.

"This continued growth is extremely positive, with Germany showing a great resurgence. Furthermore, the stabilisation of the UK market continues ahead of our projections, with holiday arrivals up 9.9% for the month and 5.7% for 2013," Bowler said.

Arrivals from China, which now provides the second biggest number of tourists to New Zealand, rose 16.2% during the year but fell by 10.6% in December as the impact of the China Travel Law took effect.

The law, introduced on October 1, sets minimum standards for tour packages offered by travel agents in China which has led to up to a 30% hike in the cost of a tour.

Bowler said the new law was supporting its strategy of higher quality itineraries with better experiences to lift the value of the Chinese market to New Zealand and figures showed that tourists from China were travelling more widely and spending more than last year.

"This is very positive as we head into the Chinese New Year celebration which is historically China's busiest travel period," he said.

The number of arrivals from Indonesia, where Tourism NZ upped its activity last year, grew by 11.9%.

TOURIST ARRIVAL FIGURES FOR 2013

Leading countries:

* Australia 1,218,016

* China 228,928

* USA 201,424

* UK 191,632

* Japan 74,560

* Germany 69,808

Total visitors: 2,717,695

Fastest growing markets:

* Thailand up 22.2 per cent

* Taiwan up 16.8 per cent

* China up 16.2 per cent

* Singapore up 16.1 per cent

* USA up 13.4 per cent

Source: Statistics NZ

Latest News

  • Cruise

P&O rescues Rotary volunteers after collapse of Air Vanuatu

P&O Cruises Australia has answered a plea for help from a group of young Australian Rotary volunteers, stranded in Vanuatu following the collapse of Air Vanuatu. The students, many of them teenagers from Albury, NSW, were volunteering for a youth project run by the Hive Rotary Club Australia when the airline abruptly cancelled all flights, […]

  • Destinations

Intrepid continues expansions with launch of first DMC in Jordan

Intrepid has increased its presence in the Middle East with the opening of its first destination management company in Jordan. Based in Amman, the local team will operate Intrepid’s range of nine experiential small group tours in Jordan from this summer, with a view to expanding the range for 2025 and beyond. Zina Bencheikh, managing […]

  • Appointments

Minor hotels appoints Puneet Dhawan to key Asia role

Global hotel owner and operator Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as head of Asia as the group plots its growth in Asia and India. From July, Dhawan will be responsible for the performance of all Minor Hotels properties in Asia, working in close collaboration with the Minor Hotels senior leadership team and will report […]

  • Appointments

Abercrombie & Kent and Crystal appoint Evon Ler to director of sales, Asia

Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group have announced that Evon Ler will join them in the new role of director of sales, Asia. She will work closely with Tony Archbold (VP, Sales, APAC, Crystal) and Susan Haberle (VP, Sales & Partnerships, APAC, A&K) with trade support across the region. Ler comes to the A&K family with more […]