Visitor arrivals from overseas fell 1 percent from a year earlier to 184,900 in October when compared to the same month in 2009, the first decline since May.Publishing the data today, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said arrivals from Australia were 6500 low
Visitor arrivals from overseas fell 1 percent from a year earlier to 184,900 in October when compared to the same month in 2009, the first decline since May.
Publishing the data today, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said arrivals from Australia were 6500 lower than in October 2009.
Most of the decline in Australian visitors was from New South Wales, down 5100, due to the timing of school holidays in the state.
This year the holidays were from September 25 to October 10, while in 2009 they were from October 3-18, SNZ said.
The earlier holidays contributed to 2700 more visitors arriving from New South Wales in September 2010 compared with a year earlier.
Visitor numbers from Korea and China partially recovered from earlier declines.
Arrivals from Korea fell from 10,200 in October 2006 to just 3900 in October 2009, before rebounding to 5400 last month. Visitors from China fell from 9600 in October 2007 to 6600 last year, before returning to 8600 in October 2010, SNZ said.
For the year to October visitor arrivals were up 75,600 or 3 percent to 2.51 million, with Australian visitors up 53,900 or 5 percent to 1.12 million.
Korean visitors were up 12,200 or 23 percent for the year, those from China rose 11,500 or 11 percent, from Japan they were up 8900 or 11 percent and from Taiwan lifted 4800 or 29 percent. Visitors from Britain were down 17,000 or 7 percent.
New Zealand residents departed on 180,600 short term overseas trips last month, up 4100, or 2 percent, from October 2009.
