Travellers keep eye on budget

By SIMON HENDERY

The falling New Zealand dollar has not sparked a spending spree among visiting overseas tourists.

Holidaymakers may find their money goes further in New Zealand, but most seem to be sticking to a budget set before they leave home.

Despite a significant fall in the New Zealand dollar, tourist spending patterns have not changed markedly since 1997, said Tourism New Zealand's general manager of operations, Tim Hunter.

While the value of the kiwi dropped 24 per cent against the US dollar since December 1997, the average US visitor spent only 4 per cent more when purchases were converted to home currency.

He said that compared with the UK pound, the kiwi had fallen 22 per cent, but UK visitors spent only 7 per cent more in pounds.

Over the same period, average home-currency spending by German, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore visitors fell below 1997 levels.

"What you are seeing is visitors spending fairly similar amounts in their home currency amounts per visit, which indicates that they budget to take a certain amount of money and try to restrict themselves to that," Mr Hunter said.

The figures are compiled from a random survey of travellers departing from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.

"The good thing for New Zealand is that they have spent more [in New Zealand dollar terms] - they have either shopped more or participated in more tourist activities or stayed in higher grade accommodation - which has certainly added value at this end," Mr Hunter said.

"It's a nice thing to have in terms of visitors going away from New Zealand feeling very satisfied with the value that is offered but it's not necessarily going to be a key marketing driver for us."

Mr Hunter said the cost of airfares was the key factor when travellers tossed up whether to visit New Zealand.

Tourists spend $4.7 billion here a year, according to Tourism's latest figures.