Beijing Olympics Takes a Toll on New Zealand Visitor Arrivals in August 2008

A dip in Chinese visitor arrivals to New Zealand in August 2008 has demonstrated the importance of this growing market to New Zealand’s tourism industry.

The ‘stay at home’ influence of the Olympics and a continued ban on Government travel after the May Sichuan earthquake resulted in a 29% drop (2600) in Chinese visitor arrivals in August.

"The drop in Chinese arrivals, on top of softening numbers in many major markets, shows the growing importance of Chinese visitors to New Zealand’s tourism industry," Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said.

Overall, visitor arrivals to New Zealand were down 1.4% in August 2008, a decrease of 2,300 people from August 2007.

Highlights of New Zealand International Visitor arrivals August 2008:

• Australia - 79,178; up 1.3%
• UK - 11,792; down 6.9%
• USA - 10,010; down 5.8%
• Canada - 2,134; up 4.3%
• China - 6,446; down 28.5%
• Korea - 6,336; up 10.3%
• Japan - 9,108; down 7.8%

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