Tourism New Zealand has revealed UK visitor numbers within the first half 2013 were up 3.3 per cent compared with the identical time last year.
Globally, there was a robust increase in international visitor arrivals, setting an effective base for the winter season.
“When we glance on the first six months of the year we see a robust picture for arrivals -with total arrivals up 5.8 per cent against an identical period last year and holiday arrivals up ten per cent,” explained Justin Watson, Tourism New Zealand acting chief executive.
“This puts the industry in a terrific good place previous to the 2013 ski season which has already seen a great start – with record levels of snow to all ski-fields and Australian arrivals up 17 per cent for the month.
“We anticipate seeing further growth over the approaching months.”
For the primary six months of the year holiday arrivals are up across Tourism New Zealand’s top six markets: Australia six per cent, China 30.9 per cent, US 20.7 per cent, UK 3.3 per cent, Japan 7.8 per cent, Germany 2.9 per cent.
“It is encouraging to determine this growth from our traditional long-haul markets after what have been a tricky few years for the industry,” added Watson.
The US has become the third-largest source of tourists to New Zealand.
“The underlying growth from the long-haul markets further supports the positive impact seen from the investment in marketing New Zealand’s association with the Hobbit trilogy,” continued Watson.
“Our 100 per cent Middle-earth, 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign continues to gain its objectives – providing the extra motivation and reason to transform interest in a vacation to New Zealand into an exact booking.”
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