Chinese visitors drive record off-peak tourism in New Zealand

A surge in tourists from China pushed the number of visitors to New Zealand to a new high last month, the government statistics agency said Friday.

Visitor arrivals numbered 256,700 in April to set a new April record, according to Statistics New Zealand.

The number was up 8 percent year on year, with a 40-percent increase in visitor arrivals from China to 43,400.

"More visitors arriving from China more than offset a 4-percent fall in visitors from Australia, and helped set a new April record," population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner said in a statement.

An increase in visitor arrivals from Guangdong, Shanghai, Beijing and Zhejiang contributed to the rise in visitor arrivals from China.

Together these regions accounted for over half of the increase of Chinese arrivals.

In the year to the end of April, visitor arrivals hit a record 3.27 million, up 11 percent year on year.

Annual visitor arrivals broke the 3 million mark in the year ended July 2015, and had been rising steadily since.

The government's Tourism New Zealand agency said the growth in off-peak arrivals was exceptionally good news for the industry.

"By extending the traditional peak season it enhances employment opportunities and the value growth is bringing significant economic benefit to the country," chief executive Kevin Bowler said in a statement. Endit