KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders spent $400 million less on domestic travel in the September 2008 year compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Figures show Kiwis spent $7.6 billion on seeing their own country, down from $8 billion in the year to September 2007 - a drop of 4.6 per cent.
Spending on overnight trips and day trips declined at the same rate, dropping from $5.2 billion to $5 billion for overnighters and from $2.8 billion to $2.6 billion for those going out just for a day.
Business travel was the area most hit. It fell by more than 17 per cent in the September year. But visits to friends and family were up 6.8 per cent.
Ministry of Tourism research head Bruce Bassett said the September figures showed tougher economic times hitting local travel. "Uncertain economic conditions and high fuel costs during this period have shown through in the softening of domestic travel."
But Bassett said changes in the way New Zealanders spent money on travel were a natural response to the factors people considered when making a trip.
During the same period international departures were up by 2 per cent as New Zealanders took advantage of the higher New Zealand dollar.
Spending on domestic travel makes up more than half of the total amount spent in the tourism sector.
The domestic travel research surveyed 15,000 New Zealand residents by phone last year.
