Australia Continues To Out Perform

Australia Continues To Out Perform

A great performance from Australia is continuing to underpin a steady increase in visitor numbers, despite a flattening off from some major markets.

Visitor arrivals from Australia set a new high last month, surpassing the previous high for a July month, set in 2004.

The figures support Tourism New Zealand's focus and investment in Australia, New Zealand's largest market for visitors, Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton says.

Statistics New Zealand figures showed total arrivals from Australia were up 14.6 per cent, almost 10,000 extra visitors in July, compared with July 2006.

Arrivals for those visiting on holiday from Australia increased 21.5 per cent in July, compared with the same month a year earlier.

The ski season has started strongly backed by promotions from Tourism New Zealand, the regional tourism organisations, airlines and operators, which have been running since late February, Mr Hickton said.

Tourism New Zealand's "What's On" campaign has been running since August 2006.

The spring "What's On" campaign has just launched the "Spring Pass" offering special deals to Australian visitors. The campaign is using text downloading, interactive billboards, WAP technology and "live" cinema adverts alongside traditional television commercials.

The high New Zealand dollar appears to be having some effect in the United States, with wholesalers saying it is making New Zealand and Australia a hard sell, Mr Hickton said.

ENDS

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