Chinese visitors boost tourism numbers

 Record visitors from China in August drove a 4 per cent increase in total tourist numbers. The number of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand in August more than doubled over the same month a year ago to 9700, exceeding the previous record of 9000 in August 2007, Statistics New Zealand said. China was the main driver for a 4 per cent increase in total tourists in August to 168,100, while visitors from Japan also increased strongly over August 2009, when the country was affected by the swine flu pandemic.

Gains from Asia were offset by falls in some other key markets, with visitors from the United Kingdom dropping to 8800, the lowest number in the month of August since 1999. Statistics New Zealand also said that the number of long term and permanent arrivals exceeded long term and permanent departures by 800 last month.

Sourced=stuff