Fri, 17 Dec 2004

Record year for Tourism

The Tourism Research Council's latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) shows that international visitors spent a record $6.6 billion in the year to September 2004 -six percent more than last year.

---------------------------------

Minister of Tourism Mark Burton today congratulated the tourism sector on another remarkable year.

The Tourism Research Council's latest International Visitor Survey (IVS) shows that international visitors spent a record $6.6 billion in the year to September 2004 -six percent more than last year.

Australians visiting New Zealand spent $1.4 billion, up 23% in the year to June 2004. "I am pleased to see that Australians are benefiting from cheaper airfares through competition on the Trans Tasman routes, and are spending more on their holidays in New Zealand," Mark Burton said.

Spending by visitors from the UK and Japan also increased by 7% and 3% respectively.

Nationally, the latest Tourism Satellite Account figures show a record-breaking number of visitor arrivals, coupled with an even higher level of spending. In 2003, international tourism's contribution to total exports was close to 18 per cent, or $7.4 billion. Combined with our strong domestic market, total tourism spending represents approximately $16.5 billion, or nearly 10 per cent of GDP.

"Clearly, the tourism sector is heading in the right direction, and continues to be a strong contributor to the economic development of New Zealand. Everyone involved in tourism has reason to be proud of this achievement," said Mark Burton.

The full International Visitors Survey is available on the Tourism Research Council website, www.trcnz.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>