More visitors but shorter visits

The number of visitors who arrived in the country for short term stays increased last month, compared to February 2004, but the total number of days they stayed was down.

The 250,100 short term overseas visitor arrivals were 5 per cent, or 12,000, more than February 2004, which also had an extra day because it was in a leap year, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The number of days stayed by all visitors who arrived in February was down 6 per cent, from 5.51 million in 2004 to 5.2 million. The average length of stay was 21 days last month, compared with 23 days in the year ended February 2004.

Visitor numbers from China were up 3700, or 58 per cent, from Hong Kong up 2700, or 170 per cent, from Australia up 2400, or 3 per cent, and the United States up 2400, or 10 per cent.

The change in the timing of the Chinese/Lunar New Year, from January in 2004 to February in 2005, was a likely contributor to the rise in visitors from many Asian countries, particularly China and Hong Kong, SNZ said.

For the year ended February 2005, there were 2.365 million visitor arrivals, up 219,800 -- 10 per cent -- on the February 2004 year.

Permanent and long term (PLT) arrivals exceeded departures by 1800 in February 2005, compared with an excess of 3400 in February 2004.

In the year to the end of February 2005 there was a net PLT migration gain of 11,100, down 63 per cent on the net inflow of 30,100 recorded in the previous February year.

Net PLT inflow from the United Kingdom was 8900 for the February 2005 year, down 15 per cent on the year ended February 2004.

Net PLT inflow from Asia was down from 19,100 to 7800 in the year ended February 2005. Net outflow to Australia was 16,300 in the February 2005 year, compared with 10,600 in the previous February year.

- NZPA