Rising dollar helps kiwis fly
A report in the Sunday Star Times says that Kiwi holiday makers are taking to the skies as increasing wages and the climbing dollar make international travel enticing.
Kiwis took 208,000 overseas trips in June – a record number of departures, and up 11% compared to the same time last year, Statistics New Zealand figures show.
Industry experts say the strengthening dollar, which almost topped US80c last week, is helping Kiwis get into holiday mode and stay away for longer.
“All of a sudden Hawaii has come back in favour very strongly,” says Flight Centre northern regional manager Chris Bain. He says the strengthening of the dollar against the greenback is upping inquiries to the US – especially among families booking Disneyland trips for the next school holidays in September.
Tourism Ministry research manager Bruce Bassett says along with exchange rates, higher wages and property prices led to a general feeling of wealth and influenced overseas travel. “There’s probably some kind of `wealth’ effect happening. As property prices increase, people who have that asset feel wealthy and can stimulate more travel.”
House of Travel Retail Manager Brent Thomas says the agency is having a “stellar” year, with sales up 20% compared to 2006. Bookings for travel next year are up about 30%
“People are saying ‘we’re going on holiday because we’re getting more for our dollar’.”
And we’re going everywhere – except Fiji where political strife has pushed June travel numbers down by 10% compared to the same time last year. Australia and the UK were up 12%, with travel to the US up by less than 1% this month following a 13% increase in May.
The results follow on from a record breaking May, which saw the largest monthly increase in two years. Holidaying was the main reason for heading offshore, followed by business trips and visiting friends and relatives.
The June travel data comes as new research by the Ministry of Tourism shows overseas holiday travel is highly sensitive to exchange rate movements – especially to our top four destinations Australia, Fiji, the UK and the US.
On average, a 1% strengthening in the New Zealand dollar will increase overseas holiday travel by almost 0.9%. Wage increases have a more significant impact, with a 1% growth in wages resulting in a 2.2% jump in international trips. Travel to the UK and US was most sensitive to exchange rate changes, while trips to Australia remained steady.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports