International visitor arrivals figures out today have confirmed
that it has been a slow start to the peak season for the New
Zealand tourism industry.
Statistics New Zealand figures for the month of November show
visitor arrivals were up just 0.3 per cent compared with the same
month last year, to 219,939 arrivals.
Tourism New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Tim Hunter says the
figures indicate that New Zealand's long-haul markets are still
feeling the pinch of the global recession.
"It's been a tough year for tourism globally, so the fact that
we've ended 2009 down just 0.6 per cent shows how hard the New
Zealand tourism industry has worked to drive visitor numbers in a
difficult environment," says Tim Hunter.
Australia continues to be New Zealand's 'banker market', with
7,300 more visitors crossing the Tasman to New Zealand last month
compared with November 2008 (up 9.5 per cent).
"The economic situation remains fragile in key markets including
the US and UK, and we can expect to see this reflected in visitor
numbers in the short term. The general feeling is that arrivals
will be subdued for the first part of the peak season, but we
expect to see an improving trend in some long-haul markets in the
first quarter of 2010."
Tourism New Zealand's priorities for 2010 will be on recovery of
long-haul markets where arrivals are still showing declines.
"We will be going back into the UK with campaign activity in
January. A large-scale project with Air New Zealand will launch
early in the New Year and is expected to help drive recovery in
arrivals from the US.
"We are also continuing to keep pressure on those markets and
sectors that have remained strong throughout the recession,
including the backpacker market and smaller European markets."
Chinese advertising activity will extend into Beijing for the
first time in 2010, which will help build awareness of New Zealand
in China.
International Visitor Arrivals November 2009:
- Australia - 84,502, up 9.5%
- UK - 24,518, down 0.9%
- USA - 18,768, down 11.3%
- China - 11,063, down 3.5 %
- Japan - 8,027, down 1.9%
- Germany - 8,096, up 2.5%
- South Korea - 4,370, down 12.5%
- Canada - 4,922, down 14.9%
For further information contact:
Cas Carter, Corporate Communications, Tourism New Zealand, Mob 021
915 410
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