Tourism spend and arrivals continue upward surge

19 August 2016

For immediate release

International tourism spend and arrivals continue upward surge through winter

Tourism New Zealand says a continued growth in international holiday arrivals and an 18 percent increase in spending for the autumn quarter is more great news for the New Zealand economy.

TNZ Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says: “Our number one priority is to increase the value of international holiday visitors to New Zealand and these latest figures show we are making great progress. The financial contribution from international tourism is now sitting at a new high of $10.3 billion for the year ended June 2016, with holiday spend contributing $6.3 billion”.

The figures released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Economic Development’s (MBIE) International Visitor Survey show the strongest growth in expenditure was driven from Asia, with China (up 33 per cent), Japan (up 57 percent) and Korea (up 92 percent) reflecting strong expenditure growth from these markets through the year.

The spending figures come on the same day Statistics New Zealand figures show total holiday arrivals are up a whopping 21 per cent for the month of July 2016, a 17 per cent increase for the year ending July.

“The big increase in holiday arrivals in our key markets of Australia, China and the United States is exceptional. Arrivals from our number one market Australia topped fifty thousand, (52,384) for the first time in the month of July, reflecting great results from our campaign work encouraging Australians to take a winter break here.

“Strong growth in holiday visitors from the United States, (up 13.9 per cent) comes off the back of increased air capacity from Air New Zealand, American Airlines and United Airlines and our increased marketing campaigns and joint venture efforts with the airlines.

“China continues to deliver strong growth, with holiday arrivals up 31.5 percent, supported by similar strong performances across our other Asian markets, including Indonesia, up 14 percent, Japan up 20.9 percent and India up 23.8 percent.

“To have sustained such strong growth into the winter months is further confirmation that New Zealand can be a successful holiday destination for all seasons,” says Kevin.

New Zealand’s ultra-long haul markets of the UK and Germany also contributed to the July year ended growth numbers, with an 11.1 percent increase in holiday visitors from the UK and a 16.3 percent from Germany.

ends

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