International tourists staying away
New Zealand is struggling to entice International tourists to its far off land partly due to increased competition from other countries near Europe and America and the global slowdown too.
Domestic tourists spent $12.4 billion in the year ended March 2009, an increase of 2.6 percent from the previous year. While international tourist expenditure declined by 0.9 percent — the first fall since figures were first collected in 1999.
Ministry of Tourism research manager Bruce Bassett said the first half of 2009 was the most challenging period for international tourism globally.
“And to actually come through that with a pretty modest decline, I think is a pretty good result.”
Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said the impact of the global recession was softened by the large numbers of Australian visitors, New Zealand’s largest international visitor market.
Despite the slight decline in international tourism, it contributed $9.3b (16.4 percent) to New Zealand’s total exports of goods and services, second to dairy products at $10b (17.6 percent).
According to travel magazine Australia the numbers of Aussies crossing the Tasman will go up.
Overall, the tourism industry proved its resilience as total tourism expenditures rose by 1.1 percent ($226 million) to $21.7b.