Chinese tourists boost spending by $500m 27 Oct 2013
Big growth in the number of Chinese visitors to New Zealand helped boost overall tourist spending by half a billion dollars last year, latest figures show.
Domestic and international tourists spent a combined $23.9 billion in the year ended March 2013, which was $541 million, or 2.3 per cent, more than the previous year.
Statistics New Zealand's report showed spending by international tourists rose by 2.2 per cent ($213 million) in the year, after a 1.4 per cent lift in the previous year.
Spokesman Peter Gardiner said the increase in spending was partly tied to strong growth in Chinese visitors.
"This reflects both the increasing value of the Chinese market and the ongoing change in the composition of our traditional visitor markets," he said.
China is now New Zealand's second-biggest source of tourists, behind Australia with almost 1.2 million annually.
Nearly 50,000 more people from China came to New Zealand during the year to March, a 31.2 per cent jump.
Total Chinese visitor arrivals hit 210,240 - the first time they have exceeded 200,000. That growth has continued throughout the year, rising to 236,300 in the year ended September.
A number of key events helped drive tourism activity during the year, including the world premiere of Peter Jackson's Hobbit movies.
Tourism generated a direct contribution to GDP of $7.3 billion, or 3.7 per cent of GDP, and tourists generated $1.3 billion in GST revenue.
The industry directly employed 110,800 full-time workers, which was 5.7 per cent of New Zealand's total workforce.
The strongest growth in tourism expenditure was in education services, which increased 3.8 per cent to $689 million.
Today's report provides the most recent snapshot of tourism spending but Statistics New Zealand has released more recent data for visitor arrivals.
The latest International Travel and Migration report showed visitor arrivals last month were the second-highest ever for a September month.
A total of 191,100 visitors landed in September, compared to 179,100 a year ago.
The 21,200 visitors from China was well up from 14,000 last September.
Visitor arrivals in the year to September were 2.670 million, up 3 per cent on the previous year.
Source NZ Herald
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more