Visitor Numbers Up 13 Per Cent

There were 169,320 visitor arrivals during November 1999, up 19,760 or 13 per cent on the same month last year. About three-fifths of this large increase was due to more visitor arrivals from Asia, said Deputy Government Statistician Dianne Macaskill. For the November 1999 year there were 1.597 million visitor arrivals, up 124,000 or 8 per cent on the same period last year.

Between October and November 1999 the seasonally adjusted number of visitor arrivals increased by 3 per cent. The November figure is a record high for the seasonally adjusted visitor arrivals series.

In November 1999 there were more visitors from Asia (up 11,560 or 36 per cent), Europe (up 5,800 or 16 per cent), Northern America (up 1,470 or 7 per cent) and Australia (up 1,130 or 3 per cent). Within these regions there were significantly more visitors from Korea (up 3,210), Singapore (up 3,090) and the United Kingdom (up 2,870). Also for the first time in six months there was an increase in visitors from Japan (up 2,730).

Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 1,210 people in November 1999. This is well up on the net gains of 740 and 20 in November 1997 and 1998 respectively. This result is due partly to more New Zealand citizens returning after a long-term absence overseas. Since August 1998 seasonally adjusted monthly net permanent and long-term migration has generally been increasing, and for the first time since June 1998 the series showed a net gain. For the November 1999 year there was a net outflow of 9,500 permanent and long-term migrants, compared with 5,460 in the November 1998 year. There were net losses to Australia (23,080) and the United Kingdom (2,220), but net gains from China (3,050), South Africa (2,260), Japan (1,980), India (1,560) and Fiji (950).

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