New Zealand Visitor Arrivals in August 2009

Figures from Statistics New Zealand show that Australian holiday arrivals over the winter season of June, July and August were up 28% on the same three months last year.

Australian holiday arrivals for those three months were also 2% higher than arrivals over the peak 2007/2008 summer months of December, January and February.

"The recession and a combined New Zealand marketing push in Australia have resulted in this winter season outstripping summer arrivals in 2007/2008 and that is something we could not have foreseen given the current economic downturn," said Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton.

Overall New Zealand visitor arrivals in August were down 1%, or 1,385 visitors, compared to the same month last year. Holiday arrivals however were up 1% on August 2008.

Though the UK is continuing to show weakness, with arrivals in August down 12%, Germany is showed some strength, with arrivals up almost 8%.

"Our feedback from the market is that Germany has held up well, particularly the youth sector. German travellers have proved to be more resilient to the whole crisis despite the credit crunch and swine flu," Mr Hickton said.

Arrivals from the US were also up 7.4% overall and holiday arrivals were up 20%.

"Tourism New Zealand has just launched a new round of campaign work in China ahead of a special Golden Week national holiday starting on 1 October, we hope that will kick start the Chinese holiday market in the run up to summer," Mr Hickton said.

New Zealand Visitor Arrivals in August 2009

• Australia: 88,347 up 11.6%
• UK: 10,353 down 12.2%
• USA: 10,752 up 7.4%
• Japan: 5,586 down 38.7%
• Canada: 2,247 up 5.3%
• China: 4,578 down 29 %
• South Korea: 4,200 down 33.7%
• Japan: 5,586 down 38.7%
• Germany: 2,247 up 5.3%

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