International visitors at record level in 2010
A record number of international tourists visited this country in 2010, but they spent 10 percent less than overseas visitors did in 2009.
A record number of international tourists visited this country in 2010, but they spent 10 percent less than overseas visitors did in 2009.
International tourist numbers rose 67,000 or 2.7 percent from 2009 to 2.525 million in 2010, while spending declined $619m to $5.6 billion, the Ministry of Economic Development's latest international visitor survey shows.
Ministry director of tourism, events and consumer affairs Roger Wigglesworth said the lower spend appeared to be the result of the high New Zealand dollar and tourists having less in their pocket because of the global recession.
The rise in international visitors was primarily due to higher numbers of Australian tourists, which increased 3.4 percent from 2009 to 1.12 billion, while numbers of Asian tourists rose significantly, a trend the ministry expected to continue.
Australians accounted for 44.4 percent of all international visitors, the highest level since 1985, although their spending fell by 8.5 percent or $151m from 2009 to $1.62b.
Tourists from South Korea and China appeared to be less perturbed by the exchange rate or the global financial crisis, with spending from both groups up $25m.
Japanese tourism numbers rose 11.9 percent to 88,000, but a declining average length of stay and lower average spend per trip resulted in a 15.3 percent drop in spending from 2009 to $321m, Dr Wigglesworth said.
NZPA
Tue, 22 Feb 2011
Tue, 22 Feb 2011
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International visitors at record level in 2010
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