According to statistics released recently by Tourism New Zealand, international visitor arrivals were up eight per cent in June 2010, compared to 145,800 visitors in 2009. They were up 3.7 per cent for the year to date. Growth for the month was led by a strong start to the winter ski season out of Australia (up seven per cent to 76,200 visitors), and recovery in key Asian markets following last year’s Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic.
Visitor arrivals from Western markets were down in June 2010. Political and economic uncertainty, more expensive airfares, shortages of airline seats, and the ‘stay at home’ effect of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, were among the factors influencing declines in arrivals from the US, UK and Germany.
Kevin Bowler, Chief Executive, Tourism New Zealand said this return to growth, particularly among the Asian markets, added confidence that New Zealand was getting back on track with international arrivals. |