Australia Helps Shore Up Arrivals Figures

19 December 2008

Australia Helps Shore Up Arrivals Figures

Australia has again shown its importance to New Zealand's tourism industry, with Australian arrivals helping to hold up declines from other markets.

Recognising this, Tourism New Zealand has moved forward $2 million in campaign spending to run its 'What's On' campaign in Australia during summer for the first time.

The 'What's On' television commercials will start in Australia on Boxing Day.

"Australia is holding up at the moment but we cannot take any market for granted in the current climate. The additional spending, and a new look to the campaign, focusing on experiences, should help to keep us top of mind for those Australians still planning summer breaks," Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said.

Statistics New Zealand figures out today showed visitor arrivals dropped 4.2 per cent in November compared with the same month last year.

Arrivals from Australia rose 1.8 per cent in November, offsetting sharp declines in arrivals from most major Asian markets. Overall, arrivals from Europe held reasonably steady, down 2.4 per cent.

"The arrivals figures for November are very much in line with expectations and again show the importance of the Australian market in the current economic climate," Mr Hickton said.

Tourism New Zealand is planning a burst of marketing activity in the New Year, with campaigns running in the US, China and the UK.

"With around 900 million people still travelling worldwide, there are enough people to fill New Zealand many times over. We just need to make sure we keep building our share of those travellers by keeping New Zealand's profile up so that people wanting a holiday will think of New Zealand," Mr Hickton said.

International Visitor Arrivals October 2008:

* Australia 77,198 up 1.8% * UK 24,750 down 7% * USA 21,164 down 1.8% * Canada 5,786 up 5.3% * China 11,462 down 17.5% * Korea 4,994 down 43.1% * Japan 8,184 down 45.8%

ENDS

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