Chinese, Australian arrivals drive record New Zealand visitor numbers

Chinese and Australian travellers drove an annual record in New Zealand visitor numbers for the year to the end of August, the government statistics agency said Wednesday.

Visitor numbers were up 11 percent from the August 2015 year to a new high of 3.36 million, according to Statistics New Zealand.

A 17-percent increase in holiday arrivals to 1.73 million was largely responsible, said a commentary from the agency.

The biggest changes in visitor arrivals by country of residence between the August years were from China (up 83,700 to 404,200), Australia (up 81,100 to 1.38 million) and the United States (up 30,000 to 266,300).

Holidaymakers and visits to friends and relatives accounted for 81 percent of all visitor arrivals in the August year.

Last month also saw a new August record for visitor arrivals, which were up 9 percent year on year to 221,200, due mainly to a 13-percent increase in holiday arrivals.

Holidaymakers from the United States, Malaysia, and Japan were the main contributors to the rise. Endit