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MBIE: International visitors spend 10.4 billion to September 2017

Direct News Source

16-Nov-2017 Spending by international visitors in New Zealand was a record $10.4 billion for the year to September 2017, according to the latest International Visitor Survey released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

An increase in visitors from the United States has resulted in a 14 per cent jump in spending from this market over the year to $1.2 billion. Direct flights between Auckland and Houston have helped attract more visitors from the US.

UK visitors during the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 spent upwards of $181 million in the third quarter of 2017, up 104 percent on the same quarter last year.

Australian visitors remain the largest international market for spending in New Zealand, spending $2.6 billion over the year to September 2017. The next largest market was Chinese visitors who spent $1.4 billion.

While international visitor numbers continue to climb (up nine per cent over the year to September 2017), overall expenditure growth has been moderated by the strong New Zealand dollar, which has affected the amount visitors spend on average.

MBIE has predicted that visitor numbers and spend should see a steady growth over the next few years, growing by 47 per cent by 2023 to $15.3 billion.

The International Visitor Survey is based on results from approximately 8,928 visitors departing New Zealand airports, with data released by MBIE quarterly.