ITC Industry News Bulletin #56
It’s been a bumper week for New Zealand tourism news. Tourism figures continue to rise, Britons love our country, Dunedin prepares for a chocolate festival, and much more.
TOP STORIES
New Zealand’s tourism boom continues
New Zealand’s growing tourism industry has been making headlines for months, and May managed to top the charts again – records for both short-term visits and migration have once more been broken.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the overall annual migration to New Zealand rose to 68,400 in May – up from 57,800 a year earlier. The number of short-term visitor arrivals from overseas shot up to 3.29 million, which is 11 per cent more than the same time last year.
Further to this, the Treasury is expecting migration levels will reach their peak in June – at 70,700 – before returning to normal levels again in another three years.
Historically, Australia has been the number one country of origin for visitors to New Zealand, but recent figures have shown that 22,200 people came from China through May, compared to 20,200 Australians. This is only the second time China has managed to supersede Australia’s figures.
New Zealand is Britons’ number one destination
An analysis of government data and a survey has revealed the favourite worldwide destination for Britons is New Zealand.
More than 2,000 adults were surveyed as part of the analysis, and almost a third of them (29 per cent) said the country they most wanted to visit was New Zealand, which made it the most popular destination.
The choice came down to a number of factors, including safety, value for money, and climate. Plus, 38 per cent of people wanted to go somewhere safe. Other top locations were Iceland, Japan, Norway, and Croatia.
IN BRIEF
New Zealand is the fourth safest country for travel
New Zealand has been named the fourth safest country in the world by the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) in the Global Peace Index. New Zealand has held the fourth spot for two years in a row, while Iceland sits in first place. Read more
Dunedin prepares for chocolate festival
The Cadbury Factory is one of Dunedin’s most popular attractions, and its annual chocolate festival is set to bring in the crowds from July 16-22. A main event will be the rolling of chocolate balls down the world’s steepest street. Read more
Air NZ partnerships may help more people travel
Air New Zealand has announced that it will partner with Mercury, Z Energy and Foodstuffs New Zealand Ltd at the end of this year. Consumers who shop with these suppliers will be able to earn Airports on their spends, which can be used for travel with the airline. Read more
New Zealand ski fields lure Aussie ski bunnies
As many as 300,000 Australians are predicted to ski and snowboard on New Zealand’s mountains this winter, with the majority of them visiting Queenstown. With a bumper ski season on the cards, it’s believed the season will attract greater numbers of Australians. Read more
Gisborne shows highest regional tourism growth
Gisborne has taken out the top spot for regional tourism growth, according to new estimates from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Data shows a 10 per cent growth in spending compared to April 2015, which is the highest in the country. Read more
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