International visitor spend grew 38 per cent to $9.4 billion in the September 2015 year according to the latest International Visitor Survey released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The growth is driven by New Zealand’s major tourism markets, with significant increases in total spending by visitors from China, up an estimated 78 per cent from the previous year; the United States, with a 55 per cent increase; and the UK, with a 43 per cent increase.
Spending by visitors from Australia, New Zealand’s largest market, increased 23 per cent according to MBIE’s sector trends manager, Rebecca Burson.
“The main driver is increases in per person spend, which is up 26 per cent. The increase in per person spend accounted for 70 per cent of the increase in total spend. Increases in visitor numbers had a lesser effect; international visitor arrivals were up nine per cent for the year-end September 2015 compared to 2014.
“There is evidence that visitors from China, USA, UK, Germany and Canada are reporting materially higher spend per person than a year ago. In relation to visitors from China, the spend per person increased 35 per cent to $5,100. For visitors from the USA, the spend increased 37 per cent to $4,800; for UK visitors $5,400 (a 39 per cent increase); for Germans $6,400 (a 26 per cent increase); and for Canadians $5,200 (a 37 per cent increase).
“Exchange rates may also be contributing to the increased spend with the pound sterling, Chinese yuan and US dollar all strengthening against the NZ dollar during the period,” says Burson.
Estimated visitor spend first increased sharply from the December 2014 quarter and has remained at this new level. Year-end September 2015 is the first reporting period consisting of four quarters at the higher level of spending.
The International Visitor Survey is based on results from approximately 8,900 visitors departing NZ airports, with data released by MBIE quarterly. Summary statistics are available in the IVS key data table https://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/tourism/tourism-research-data/ivs/ivs-commentary.
