Aussie tourists flock across ditch
The Dominion Post reports that we may be rivals, even enemies on the sports field, but Australians still love New Zealand.
Statistics published across the Tasman report that New Zealand is by far the favourite destination for the 5.75 million Australians who travelled overseas in the past 12 months.
In the year to the end of August, 914,000 Australians crossed the ditch. This nearly matched the number of Australians who went to the United States and Britain, the second and third most popular destinations.
Australians account for 40 per cent of all tourists coming to New Zealand.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said he expected the number of Australian visitors to hold up better than numbers from the US, Britain, Japan and China. Falling currency values had made the rest of the world more expensive for Australians and New Zealanders wanting to travel.
However, the global economic crisis and falling consumer confidence were starting to bite. “Our prediction is that if it’s going to be 5 per cent down in summer, it is going to be double that in winter.”
Tourism was particularly susceptible to a loss of consumer confidence with people opting not to spend money on items such as cars and holidays, he said.
The fall in the value of the New Zealand dollar could help, but it was important for the industry to keep up its marketing effort.
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026