Tougher Conditions Continue To Bite

Tougher Conditions Continue To Bite

An upcoming US election, rising fuel prices and growing global economic concerns have impacted on visitor arrivals in June.

Visitor arrivals were down 2.1% to just over 140,000 visitors in June compared to a year earlier.

“It appears global economic uncertainty as well as local factors like the US election have had an impact on some of New Zealand’s major markets,” Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said.

The so-called “election effect”, which causes Americans to delay making major decisions till post election, and concerns over the economy appear to have hit the US, with arrivals for June down 12.4%.

Fortunately, the UK has picked up slightly with arrivals up by 2.2% in June compared with the same month last year. Germany is also continuing to show healthy growth.

“Feedback from operators was for a slower June, so the downturn is much as anticipated,” Mr Hickton said.

Tourism New Zealand is working on campaign activity in major markets to be launched in the next few months, with the aim of driving visitors to New Zealand in the spring and summer months.

The “What’s On” campaign targeting New Zealand’s largest market, Australia, will soon launch the third year of a targeted Spring campaign in partnership with Regional Tourism Organisations.

Highlights of International Visitor arrivals June 2008

Australia 64,904 up 1.9%
UK 9,785 up 2.2%
USA 12,616 down -12.4%
Canada 1,577 down -3.5%
China 5,054 down -24.0%
Korea 6,042 down -17.6%
Japan 7,030 down -4.4%

For more information see www.tourismnewzealand.com, www.newzealand.com

ENDS

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