Visitor Arrivals Up 17 Per Cent

Visitor Arrivals Up 17 Per Cent

Winter tourism has been boosted by a 17 per cent increase in overseas visitor arrivals in July 2000, when compared with the previous July. Latest Statistics New Zealand figures show the number of overseas visitor arrivals rose by 18,900 to 130,570, with two-fifths of this increase from Asia (up 7,840), another one-quarter from Northern America (up 4,540), and about one-sixth each from Australia (up 2,930) and Europe (up 2,850).

Overseas visitor arrivals exceeded the 1.7 million mark to reach a new high (1.712 million) in the year ended July 2000, up 168,000 or 11 per cent on the previous year.

Seasonally adjusted visitor arrivals increased by 3 per cent between June and July 2000 to reach a new high for the series. The previous high was recorded in April 2000.

In July 2000 New Zealand residents left for 124,540 short-term overseas trips, up 12 per cent on 111,590 in July 1999. There was a large increase in departures to Kiwis' favourite destination, Australia (up 10,060 or 17 per cent), while fewer chose Fiji (down 6,230 or 76 per cent) because of the political crisis and its aftermath.

Permanent and long-term departures exceeded arrivals by 820 in July 2000, compared with a net loss of 440 in July 1999. There was a net outflow to Australia (2,220), but a net gain from China (550). For the year ended July 2000 there was a net outflow of 10,140 migrants, down 11 per cent on the net outflow of 11,380 last year. There was a net outflow to Australia of 25,940 migrants, up 3,450 or 15 per cent from last year, while there was a net gain of 11,150 from Asia, up 910 or 9 per cent from last year. Over the same period, the net population exchange with Europe has changed from a net loss of 3,740 to almost zero.

Paul Brown ACTING DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN END

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