For the December 2017 year, both overseas visitors and New Zealand residents had record numbers of arrivals and departures, Stats NZ said today.

In the last calendar year 3.73 million overseas visitors came to New Zealand, 6.7 percent more than in 2016. Just over half of these overseas visitors were holidaymakers, and 30 percent travelled to New Zealand to visit friends and family.

“The record number of overseas visitors in 2017 is about the same as the number of residents living in the North Island as at 30 June 2017,” population statistics senior manager Peter Dolan said. “Annual overseas visitor numbers have been generally rising since mid-2013.”

New Zealand residents took a record 2.9 million trips overseas in 2017, 9.3 percent more than in 2016. New Zealanders holidaying overseas accounted for 44 percent of all resident departures.

Australia was the top source of visitors and the top destination for New Zealand-resident travellers in 2017. Over the year, 40 percent of overseas visitors were from Australia and 45 percent of all trips by New Zealand residents were to Australia. The second-highest source of visitors was China (11 percent).

Monthly visitor arrivals breaks half a million

In the December 2017 month, overseas visitor arrivals hit a series peak of 513,300. The previous series peak (494,200) was in December 2016. December is traditionally the peak travel month due to the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

“The half million overseas visitors arriving in December is roughly equivalent to 55 Boeing 787 Dreamliners at full capacity landing every day during the month,” Mr Dolan said. “The high point of the December month’s travel was the week leading up to Christmas, when 142,000 visitors arrived.”

Seasonal fluctuations in short-term traveller numbers describes how the number of overseas visitors in New Zealand, and New Zealand residents travelling overseas, varies across each day of the year.

Short-term travellers or migrants?

International migration statistics rely on the information provided on passenger cards at the time of travel. The reported intended length of stay in New Zealand, or intended time away from New Zealand, largely determines whether the passenger is classified as a short-term traveller or a migrant. Generally, visitor arrivals and resident departures are people intending to stay, or be away, for less than one year; migrants are those intending to stay or be away for one year or more.

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