NEW ZEALAND - records highest tourism figures

eTN Asia/Pacific, 09-12-2006

Tourism Ministry figures from New Zealand showing international visitors spent a record new high of NZ$6.6 billion confirms its strategy of attracting higher spending visitors has paid off.

"This is great news for the industry," said Damien O'Connor, tourism minister. "It is the highest recorded figures in New Zealand tourism."

In a recent poll of 30,000 readers by Conde Nast Traveller (UK) magazine, New Zealand was voted the second best country in the world, behind Italy for visitors.

Figures show visitors spent 8 percent, or $500 million more, compared to the same period in the last year, despite arrival figures dropping 0.4 percent.

"The increase is pleasing given that many tourism businesses has been feeling the effects of slow growth," said Fiona Luhrs, chief executive of Tourism Industry Association New Zealand. "The figures show our strategy of targeting high-spending visitors is paying off."

The figures include $172 million spent by British rugby fans during the 2005 Lions tour, proving that hosting sports events can be a lucrative income-earner.

Neighbor Australians contributed $1.5 billion (up by 9 percent), British visitors $1.1 billion (up by 18.5 percent) while visitors from the US contributed $649 million (up 5.6 percent) during the year.

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