New Zealand looks for ski and rugby-led recovery
International arrivals into New Zealand fell by 27,710 (down 11.4 percent) in March 2011, compared to the same month in 2010.
Statistics New Zealand figures show arrival numbers fell from key markets including Australia (down 11.3 percent), UK (down 25.8 percent), South Korea (down 38.1 percent) and Japan (down 35.1 percent).
China (up 7.1 percent), USA (up 1.2 percent) and Singapore (up 8.7 percent) improved their arrival numbers.
In the 12 months to March 2011, 2,506,639 international visitors arrived in New Zealand, an increase of 0.3 per cent compared to the year to March 2010.
Tourism New Zealand chief Kevin Bowler said the drop in arrivals for March in a number of key markets was in line with what had been anticipated following events in both Christchurch (earthquake) and Japan (earthquake and tsunami).
“The international experience of events of this nature is that an immediate shortfall in visitor numbers is likely.
“The challenge for Tourism New Zealand and the wider industry has been to minimise the fall with effective communications that provide confidence to intending travellers to proceed with their plans for New Zealand, and for others to make new ones.â€
Following February’s events, Tourism New Zealand increased its marketing efforts in key markets and altered some of its messaging to help ensure arrival numbers bounced back
“While we can expect overall arrival figures in April also to be challenging, I am confident that with the New Zealand ski season ahead, a host of new air routes linking China and South East Asia to New Zealand, and Rugby World Cup 2011 around the corner, arrivals will return to more normal levels later in the year,†Bowler added.
Ian Jarrett
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