Winter heats NZ tourism boost

Australian arrivals to New Zealand this winter have lived up to expectations, providing an early boost to the bumper ski season, according to Statistics New Zealand.

International visitor arrivals were reported at an 8 per cent increase this June, compared with the same period last year, totalling 145,800 visitors, which was also up 3 per cent year to date.

Statistics New Zealand said the growth was due to Australian arrivals at the start to the winter ski season, and recovery in key Asian markets following last year?s Swine Flu pandemic.

According to Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive, Kevin Bowler, the optimistic figures, especially from key Asian market arrivals, showed the country?s tourism was getting back on track from international markets.

 ?China, Japan and Korea are warming up and the outlook is slightly brighter, but we have yet to turn the corner to get back to the growth we were seeing a year ago across Asia and there remains some underlying weakness in the western markets,? he said.

Steady growth from the Australian market peaked in the final week of June, coinciding with school holidays, which Mr Bowler said showed a good indication for its winter ski season.

Western markets, including the US, UK and Germany, however, have not bounced back and were reportedly down in June, which have been blamed on political and economic uncertainty in local markets, as well as expensive airfares and a shortage of seats. 

Sourced=etravelblackboardasia