KEY POINTS:
More New Zealanders are choosing to holiday at home rather than overseas, a Ministry of Tourism survey shows.
The survey of 15,000 residents shows that in 2006, New Zealanders spent $7.5 billion on domestic travel -- 9.3 per cent more than in 2005.
Within that figure, locals' spending on overnight trips rose 15.5 per cent to $4.8 billion.
At the same time overseas travel by New Zealanders declined by 0.4 per cent.
Releasing the survey results, Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor said they were positive for local businesses.
He partly credited campaigns by regional tourism organisations and the Automobile Association for the rise.
"New Zealand is a special place and I'm delighted increasing numbers of us are taking the opportunity to see more of it," Mr O'Connor said.
- NZPA
