Over-all tourist increase

Press, 28 August 1982, Page 24

Over-all tourist increase

PA Wellington Fewer Australians and Americans came to New Zealand last year than in previous years. The decline in the two main tourist markets was offset by increases in other markets to provide an overall increase in total arrivals of 1.9 per cent, said the Tourist and Publicity Department in its annual report tabled in Parliament. Arrivals from Japan last year increased almost 25 per cent; the rest of Asia, 10 per cent; the United Kingdom, 5.2 per cent; and West Germany, 9 per cent. The growth in the Japanese market was significant because outbound travel from Japan last year grew less than 3 per cent, said the

department’s general manager, Mr Neil Plimmer. A new office for the tourist representative was opened in Tokyo last year and an additional staff member appointed. . In spite of the favourable exchange rate which New Zealand offered Australian visitors, it was apparent that cheap international air fares and accommodation pack- : ages to., other destinations were frustrating efforts to reverse the decrease in Australian visitors, he said. The economic situation was considered the most significant factor in the decline in American visitors. The. number of Americans travelling abroad had been static for the last two years, Mr. Plimmer said.