Small increase in visitor arrivals   21 Oct 2014

>Small increase in visitor arrivals

21 October 2014

The number of visitor arrivals to New Zealand in September 2014 (193,300) increased 1 percent compared with September 2013, Statistics New Zealand said today. This was the second-highest total for a September month, after September 2011 (219,900), which was boosted by people arriving for the Rugby World Cup.

"More visitors arrived from the United States and Australia in September 2014," population statistics manager Vina Cullum said. "However, fewer visitors arrived from China. This may be because numbers in September last year were boosted by the close timing of two Chinese holidays, and people wanting to travel before a new tourism law in China took effect. The new law changed the type and price of overseas tours from 1 October 2013."

In the September 2014 year, visitor arrivals numbered 2.80 million, up 5 percent from the September 2013 year. The biggest increases were from Australia, the United States, and Germany.

New Zealand residents departed on 219,700 overseas trips in September 2014, up 4 percent from September 2013. There were more trips to Australia, Indonesia, and Fiji, but fewer to Thailand. In the September 2014 year, New Zealand residents departed on 2.24 million overseas trips, up 3 percent from the previous year.

Record net inflow of migrants continues

New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 4,700 migrants in September 2014. This equals the highest-ever net gains recorded in August 2014 and February 2003.

The increase in monthly net gains over the last year was mainly due to more arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens.

In the September 2014 year, New Zealand recorded its highest-ever net gain of 45,400 migrants.

Migrant arrivals (105,500) reached a new high in the September 2014 year. The increase in arrivals compared with the September 2013 year was led by more students, particularly from India, and more New Zealand citizens arriving from Australia.

The fall in migrant departures was primarily due to fewer departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia (down 14,100), compared with the September 2013 year. The net loss of 6,000 people to Australia in the September 2014 year was the smallest since the December 1994 year (5,900).

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit International Travel and Migration: September 2014

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