CHINA, KOREA AND AUSTRALIA HELP DRIVE VISITOR ARRIVALS TO NEW RECORD TOTAL

Continued growth in visitor arrivals from China, Korea and Australia has set a solid platform for New Zealand’s tourism industry as it heads towards the peak summer season.

The three markets contributed an extra 3,495 visitors over the same month in 2009.  That growth helped push total visitor arrivals for September to 174,200, the highest visitor total ever for the month.

Total arrivals across all markets for the year to September were up +1 percent on the same month in 2009, while over the full year growth is up +3.8 percent.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the increase in visitor arrivals from China and Korea has been driven by robust economic growth in the region.

“The Chinese and Korean economies have gone from strength to strength this year and we are expecting that to translate into continued growth in visitor arrivals during the peak New Zealand holiday season.

“Arrivals from Australia were up slightly in September, setting the stage for a positive full calendar year result from the Australian market. We have a lot ofmarketing activity planned with our airline, trade and regional tourism organisation partners in Australia in coming months which aims to drive more growth over an extended summer period.”

Japan was the only major Asian tourism market to suffer a decline in numbers during September vs prior September, but remains positive +10.3% full year on full year to 87,873.

“The rebound period following last year’s global Swine Flu outbreak is coming to an end and we are optimistic that we will see moderate growth in Japanese visitor numbers this summer,” Kevin Bowler says.

“Tourism New Zealand has launched a massive sales promotion with Japan ’s largest travel agent, JTB, and Air New Zealand has announced an additional 14 charter flights between Japan and New Zealand during the peak season. Indications from travel agents are that forward bookings from Japan are currently ahead of the same period last year.”

Visitor arrivals from New Zealand ’s key western markets remained steady or declined slightly, with the exception of Canada and Germany , which recorded moderate increases in arrivals to New Zealand .

The UK ’s slower than average economic recovery and higher seat prices compared to last year saw it suffer the greatest decline in visitor arrivals to New Zealand in September, dropping by 1,962 visitors, or 18.6 per cent.

International Visitor Arrivals September 2010:

• Australia                                  96,074             up 1.2%
• USA                                          9,658               down 3.8%
• UK                                            8,580               down 18.6%
• China                                       7,480               up 17.9%
• Japan                                       5,500               down 12.1%
• South Korea                            4,290               up 40.9%
• Germany                                  3,344               up 2.7%
• Canada                                    2,112               up 2.6%     

International Visitor Arrivals Full Year to September 2010:

·          Australia                                  1,121,761        up 7.3%

·          USA                                          192,154           down 2.8%

·          UK                                            243,031           down 6.4%

·          China                                       115,396           up 11.1%

·          Japan                                       87,873             up 10.3%

·          South Korea                             63,797             up 15.9%

·          Germany                                  65,105             up 2.4%

·          Canada                                    48,497             down 2.7%