Visitors to NZ slowing

Chinese visitor numbers up, but other countries down
1.00pm Friday October 20, 2006

The number of Chinese visitors to this country hit a record in the September year, but still could not prevent a fall in the annual figure for visitors from all countries. Also in September, the number of New Zealand residents leaving on short-term overseas trips was the second-highest ever.

At 201,900 it was lower only than the 205,200 recorded in July 2005, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) figures released today show.

Compared with September 2005, the number of residents on short-term overseas trips was up 3 per cent, with more trips to Australia, Fiji and Tonga. For the year to September 1.867 million New Zealanders made short-term overseas trips, 1 per cent up on the year before.

Short-term visitors from China reached 100,800 in the September 2006 year, a 19 per cent increase from a year earlier and the first time that number had topped 100,000. Despite that, visitor arrivals from all countries for the September 2006 year were down 1 per cent, to 2.384 million.

For the month of September, visitor arrivals were up 2 per cent from a year earlier at 166,500. More visitors came from China and Korea but fewer from Japan and Australia.

Looking at seasonally adjusted figures, the decrease for the month was less than 1 per cent, showing the general level of visitor arrivals had changed little since mid-2004, SNZ said.

Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 2700 in September, taking the net migration gain for the year to 13,200, up from 6400 in the previous September year.

The migration numbers are seen as helping keep some life in the economy, as the new arrivals buy homes and household goods, contributing to property price levels and retail sales.

Net annual migration gains peaked at 42,500 in the year to May 2003.

- NZPA