Positive Result for Tourism
Media Statement
Last updated:
September 2008
Wednesday 17 September 2008 – For immediate release
Media statement and supplementary data sheet (PDF 33KB)
International visitor spend increased to $6.2 billion in the year to June 2008, up 4.7% on the previous year, according to data just released by the Ministry of Tourism.
“Overall, this is a pleasing result for the industry during a period of relatively slow growth in arrival numbers,” said Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism Research Manager.
Spending levels by key markets increased for Australian (up 16.5% to $1.7b), UK (up 13.7% to $1.0b), Japanese (up 10.6% to $426m), Korean (up 6.5% to $256m) and Singaporean visitors (up 6.4% to $62m).
“It’s encouraging to see UK spending levels exceeding one billion dollars,” said Mr Bassett. “The UK has always been a valuable market for New Zealand and while our forecasts predict a softening of growth rates in the near future, their economic contribution as our second largest market remains substantial.”
Decreases in spend were recorded by US (down 11.5% to $618m), Chinese (down 1.7% to $261m), Taiwanese (down 19.4% to $58m), German (down 8.6% to $240m) and Canadian visitors (down 3.5% to $114m).
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 Bruce Bassett – telephone (04) 498 7448 or email bruce.bassett@tourism.govt.nz.
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