KEY POINTS:
Spending by international visitors fell by 3.2 per cent to $5.9 billion in the year to December 2008, the Ministry of Tourism said.
Spending by Australians was down 1.2 per cent, while spending by Germans was down 2.7 per cent.
The China market was down 2.8 per cent but spending by Canadians was up 21 per cent.
Air New Zealand introduced direct services to Vancouver last year.
Spending by South Korean tourists was down 22.3 per cent and spending by tourists from Taiwan down 34.1 per cent.
"A reduction in overall tourism spend is in line with the performance of international visitor arrivals and reflects the challenging trading environment over the past year,' said Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism research manager.
- NZPA
