Tourist numbers increasing

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 32

Tourist numbers increasing

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The latest statistics for tourist arrivals show that the industry in New Zealand is diversifying rapidly. Figures for the year ended June 30 show a growth of 12.5 per cent over all, but a drop of more than 17 per cent in Australians arriving in June. A few years ago it would have been impossible to contemplate these figures appearing together, said the Minister of Tourism, Mr Moore. Preliminary figures for the 1985-86 June year showed a visitor total of 694.517 from all markets, up 77,124 (12.5 per cent) on 1984-85. New markets are becoming increasingly important. Annual arrivals from the six A.S.E.A.N. countries totalled 19,140, an increase of 3843 (25.1 per cent). Arrivals from Singapore, the biggest supplier among the A.S.E.A.N.

countries, were 9250 for the year up 1318 (16.6 per cent). Singapore arrivals in the month of June were 1060, up 344 on the previous June (48 per cent). The statistics also show a continuing increase in visitors from Canada, the United States, and Japan. Combined with steady increases from Britain and West Germany, these offset the decline in visitors from Australia. Total arrivals in June of 39,461 were slightly up on June, 1985, in spite of the fall in numbers of Australian skiers. ■Mr Moore said analysis of the Australian figures for the month needed to take into account that arrivals in June, 1985, had been exceptionally high. A year ago there had been an influx of Australian supporters come to watch their national teams play New Zealand at rugby union and rugby league over Queen’s Birthday Week-end in Auckland.