International visitor spend steady over year to September

Media release

18 November 2016

International visitor spend steady over year to September 2016

International visitor spend grew 7 per cent to $10.1 billion in the year ended September 2016, according to the latest International Visitor Survey released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

MBIE Manager of Sector Trends Peter Ellis says the tourism sector continues to benefit from the steady growth in international visitor spend.

“The latest data shows high growth in visitor spending from South Korea, up 90 per cent to $297 million, and China, up 12 per cent to $1.7 billion,” says Mr Ellis.

International visitors coming to New Zealand for a holiday spent the most in total for this period with a total spend of $6.3 billion, up 11 per cent compared to year ended September 2015.

“The latest International Visitor Survey results suggest that while international visitor spend remains positive, there are signs the spending has begun to stabilise after period of record growth, peaking in September 2015 at 38 percent.

“Over the September quarter, the New Zealand dollar appreciated against the currencies of most of our key source markets which likely contributed to growth stabilising in international visitor spend,” says Mr Ellis.

The International Visitor Survey is based on results from approximately 8,200 visitors departing New Zealand airports, with data released by MBIE quarterly.

These results do not include any impacts of the North Canterbury earthquake on 14 November. Any impacts will be shown in the next International Visitor Survey on 17 February (for the period year ended December 2016).

Summary statistics are available in the IVS key data table on the MBIE website.

[ENDS]

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