Positive Growth for October Visitors Arrivals to New Zealand

The New Zealand tourism industry enjoyed another month of growth in October led mainly by European markets. New Zealand's main European markets, Germany and the United Kingdom, both produced strong visitor arrivals growth in October, according to figures released by Statistics New Zealand.

In total there were 181,371 arrivals during the month of October, up 9.4% from the previous year, with both Germany and the United Kingdom up 10%.

"Our traditional markets continue to deliver" says George Hickton Chief Executive Tourism New Zealand. "Air capacity, a positive travel industry and a high media profile for New Zealand, are helping keep us top of mind in Europe."

"New Zealand has won a number of awards in Europe over the last months. We were voted best destination by The Daily Telegraph, and only last week Blanket Bay in Queenstown was judged as the world's ultimate escape by The Sunday Times. Awards like these provide a tremendous amount of publicity in this market."

"Importantly, this publicity is also being backed up by a very supportive travel trade, which is helping convert the demand into sales."

"We recently celebrated the best of the United Kingdom's travel trade at the New Zealand Tourism Awards in London, with the level of competition higher than ever before. In Germany this week we also saw the launch of the Dertour catalogue - the largest wholesaler catalogue in the country - which featured a New Zealand cover shot for the first time."

"Tourism New Zealand will continue to work to maximise our profile in this market."

"We hosted 92 staff from Dertour to New Zealand in 2003, in conjunction with Air New Zealand, and we continue to support travel trade familiarisations and training sessions."

"We have also recently launched a Kiwi Specialist programme in the United Kingdom, to further motivate the travel trade to sell high-quality, high-value New Zealand holidays."

As in previous months Australia continued to deliver strong results in October, up 17.4% for the month. The United States was also up by 7.6%.

Total arrivals to New Zealand to the year end October 2004 are at 2.3 million, with further increases predicted for the country's summer months.