Visitor numbers down 4pc for July

Visitor arrivals dropped 4 per cent in July, compared with the same period last year, a lack of Asian visitors accounting for most of the downturn.

There were 145,600 short-term overseas arrivals to New Zealand last month, a drop of 6600 on July last year, the figures from Statistics NZ show.

There were 7000, or 16 per cent, fewer visitors from Asia last month - Japanese visitors were down 3700, or 28 per cent, Chinese visitors were down 3000, or 48 per cent, and Taiwanese down 1800, or 38 per cent.

Australian visitors also decreased by 1500, or 3 per cent.

However, visitor numbers from Korea increased by 1700, or 15 per cent, and visitors from the United States increased by 600, or 4 per cent.

There were a total of 2.044 million visitors in the year to July, up 80,200 or 4 per cent on the previous year.

Holidaymakers made up 52 per cent of visitors, followed by those visiting family and friends, at 26 per cent, and 10 per cent came for business reasons.

Meanwhile, more New Zealanders travelled overseas last month, with an increase of 21,400 or 18 per cent over last year's figures.

Most went to Australia, which was up 12,500, the United States, up 1100, Tonga, up 700, and Britain, up 600.

The number choosing to leave the country permanently was up 3 per cent over the combined June/July period.

Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 3000 last month, down 500 from July last year.

There was a net migration gain of 42,100, or 22 per cent higher than in July last year. The number of migrants from China, India, Japan, South Africa, Fiji, Korea and Britain also increased.

- NZPA