International Visitor Spend Levels Off at $6.3 Billion

Last updated: April 2008

MEDIA STATEMENT

EMBARGOED until Thursday 5 July 2007 - 3:00am

Download PDF version of media statement and supplementary table (39KB).

International visitor spend remained at $6.3 billion in the year to March 2007, up only 0.2% on the previous year, according to data just released by the Ministry of Tourism.

“This is still a positive result for the tourism industry as it compares to a year that included the extraordinary impact of the 2005 Lions Tour,” said Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism Research Manager.

“While arrival numbers grew 2.8% for the period, spend per trip decreased by 1.5%, which reflects the impact of the rising Kiwi dollar. This is in line with results of the findings of the exchange rate research released by the Ministry today which find that while visitor arrivals are not sensitive to exchange rates, the expenditure of these visitors is more sensitive.”

Key spend results from the latest figures include:

Australia – down 4.0% to $1,461m
United Kingdom – down 19.5% to $890m
United States – up 12.7% to $731m
Germany – up 29.91% to $270m
Japan – down 8.2% to $456
China – up 38.1% to $337m

For further information on the release of International Visitor Survey data please visit the Ministry of Tourism research website (www.tourismresearch.govt.nz) or contact Markus Landvogt – telephone (04) 474 2683 or email markus.landvogt@tourism.govt.nz

ENDS

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