Easter holiday shift blamed for fewer tourists over March

A shift in the Easter holidays is being blamed for exacerbating a 10 per cent drop in visitor arrivals during March.

Statistics New Zealand figures show numbers dropped to 226,500, 24,300 fewer visitors compared with the same month last year.

All New Zealand's major source markets were down apart from China, which grew 9 per cent to 2100 visitors.

Over the year, visitor arrivals were down 4 per cent to 170,600. Arrival numbers have now fallen for 10 out of the past 12 months.

Ministry of Tourism research manager Bruce Bassett said the figures had been affected by the movement of the Easter holiday period.

"Many international visitors take advantage of the Easter holiday period to travel, which occurred in March in 2008 but moved to April in 2009."

Bassett estimated the Easter timing could be attributable for 6 per cent of the decline over the month.

ASB economist Jane Turner said visitor numbers from Australia remained firm but arrivals from others countries, and in particular Asia, had started to fall. "The loss of visitors from Asia, US and EU will have a more pronounced effect on spending, as these visitors traditionally stay longer.

"However, one positive is the lower exchange rate which helps to buffer exports of services by boosting visitors' spending power in New Zealand and by helping attract more tourists when international consumer demand recovers."

Turner said the annual figure showed tourism was down 3 to 4 per cent. During the Asian crisis it fell 5 to 6 per cent as Asian markets fell away almost overnight.

"It could be six months to a year of weaker numbers."

INCOMING

March arrivals

Australia
Visitors: 4300
Change: -5 per cent

United Kingdom
Visitors: 9400
Change: -26 per cent

United States
Visitors: 5100
Change: -20 per cent

China
Visitors: 1000
Change: +9 per cent

Japan
Visitors: 1400
Change: -12 per cent