Rise in domestic travel activities

Rise in domestic travel activities

Friday 26 October 2007, 1:30pm

New Ministry of Tourism data shows that domestic travellers within New Zealand spent $7.9 billion in the year to June 2007, an increase of 11.8% compared to the previous year. “

The results show a lift in the level of domestic tourism activity over the past year in terms of both the number of trips and expenditure levels.” Spending on overnight trips by New Zealand travellers increased by 10.5% to $5.1 billion with the number of overnight trips increasing by 6.3% to 15.2 million. Daytrip expenditure by New Zealand travellers increased by 14.1% to $2.8 billion with the number of daytrips increasing by 5.0% to 30.6 million. Mr Bassett added that the year has seen an increase in New Zealanders travelling both domestically and internationally (up 1.9% over the same period).

“We’re a nation of travellers, but it is particularly encouraging to continue to see New Zealanders enjoying their own back yard, as well as off shore destinations.” With domestic tourism performing well, it provides a real boost to the sector overall, particularly when international tourism is subject to the effect of a high exchange rate environment that research shows does affect spending levels.

The Domestic Travel Survey is a telephone survey of 15,000 New Zealand residents undertaken throughout the year. A range of data and reports from the survey are available on the Ministry of Tourism’s research website – www.tourismresearch.govt.nz For further information, contact Markus Landvogt – telephone.

ENDS

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