NZ uses the R word: Recovery
AUCKLAND – The Australian market is boosting visitor numbers to New Zealand as the industry starts to see signs of recovery.
Figures released by Statistics New Zealand show visitor arrivals growing for a second consecutive month.
Arrivals were up 7.7 per cent for the month of October, almost 13,500 more visitors than the same month last year. Overall, for the year ended October, there have been one per cent fewer visitors than 2008.
Tourism New Zealand chief, George Hickton, said the additional investment into marketing in Australia has helped keep the decline in visitor numbers overall to a minimum in what has been a tough year for the industry.
“Australia continues to be the foundation of growth in visitor numbers, with the increase of 22.2 per cent (15,916 visitors) in October continuing a year of record growth for this market.
Buoyed by consistent marketing, good value airfares, a strong Australian dollar and high consumer confidence, arrivals from Australia are up 9.7 per cent (1,061,363 visitors) for the year to end of October. ”
Hickton said the industry is seeing a gradual turnaround in consumer confidence in many of New Zealand’s key tourism markets.
“The current picture is that many markets will end up on par with last year, but we are expecting to see improving growth trends as the summer progresses, particularly out of China, the US and parts of Europe,†he said.
Hickton says the $20 million additional Government funding announced in November would enable Tourism New Zealand to further push arrivals over the summer season and into 2010.
“Our focus will be on where we are best able to stimulate growth. Australia remains important, but we will also be looking to recover the long-haul markets over summer, with spend being directed to the US, UK/Europe and China.â€
Ian Jarrett
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