Kiwis are still coming, says Ferguson

Kiwis are still coming, says Ferguson
By admin


Tourism minister Martin Ferguson has attempted to allay concerns about declining tourism numbers from New Zealand, insisting Australia remains popular across the ditch.

Ferguson referred to the latest International Visitors in Australia survey by Tourism Research Australia which showed arrivals from New Zealand rose 2% year on year in the June quarter to 274,000.

“The latest survey confirms that Australia remains popular with our New Zealand neighbours,” he said.

“Our proximity to New Zealand will always make us a popular destination for business and leisure.”

His comments came as tourism bodies raged in the wake of yesterday’s Australian Bureau of Statistics figures which showed the number of visitors from New Zealand fell 4.5% in July, coinciding with the implementation of the controversial 17% hike to the Passenger Movement Charge.

Meanwhile, the IVS showed the majority of growth for the quarter came from Asia. China led the charge with visitor numbers up 23% on the same period last year.

Total visitor numbers were up 3% overall for the period.

Meanwhile, Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy pointed to strengthening expenditure from key traditional markets the US and Japan of 9% and 10% respectively over the quarter as a “real stand out”.

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