Visitor arrivals from Asia fell 1700 (2.6 per cent) in July 2019 compared with the same month last year, Stats NZ says.
There were fewer visitors from China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong but more from Singapore, Taiwan, and Indonesia.
"Visitor arrivals from Asia have been falling for six months in a row when compared with the corresponding month last year," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam says.
"The fall in arrivals from Asia was more than offset by an increase in visitors from other key markets, especially Australia and the United States."
The total number of visitor arrivals was 255,600, up 5100 (2.0 per cent) in July 2019 when compared with the same month last year. The largest changes were from:
Australia – up 1900
United States – up 1000
China – down 1000
Total annual arrivals at a peak of 3.9 million
Annual overseas visitor arrivals increased 104,400 (2.8 per cent) to 3.9 million for the year ended July 2019 compared with the year ended July 2018.
The largest changes were from:
Australia – up 41,700
United States – up 29,800
China – down 28,800.
The number of visitors who spent 15 days or more in New Zealand increased by 57,400 (5.4 per cent) in the year ended July 2019 compared with the previous year. Visitors who spent 8 to 14 days in New Zealand increased 48,600 (4.5 per cent) over the same period. Visitors who spent 1 to 3 days in New Zealand fell by 21,300 (3.2 per cent).
New Zealanders arrived home from 3.1 million trips overseas in the year ended July 2019. Of these, 1.3 million were from Australia, up 38,800 (3.2 percent). The next largest increases in New Zealand-resident traveller arrivals were from:
Indonesia – up 20,500 (37 percent) to 75,800
China – up 14,800 (12 percent) to 140,700.
The number of short-term trips made by New Zealand residents on an annual basis has remained high since breaking the 3 million mark in October last year. New Zealand-resident travellers made 3.9 per cent more trips in the year ended July 2019 than in the previous July year.
In the month of July 2019, New Zealand-resident travellers made 4900 (1.4 per cent) fewer trips compared with the same month in 2018.
The number of New Zealand-resident travellers who were away for 8 to 14 days increased by 45,800 (5.7 per cent) in the year ended July 2019 compared with the previous year. Travellers who were away for 15 days or more increased by 48,600 (4.5 per cent) over the same period.
