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

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