Fewer Kiwis holidaying at home

File photo

Spending by Kiwi holidaymakers on domestic travel fell 6.4 per cent to $3.1 billion in the year to June as fewer of us holidayed at home, the latest Ministry of Economic Development domestic travel survey shows.

Overseas travel by New Zealanders rose by five per cent during the same period on the strength of the New Zealand dollar.

The New Zealand dollar rose above 88 US cents during July, giving Kiwis more buying power overseas.

In contrast domestic business travellers travelled more and spent $2.9 billion - 8.5 per cent more than across the same period last year.

Overall spending on trips by Kiwis within New Zealand held steady at $8.9 billion.

Ministry of Economic Development Research and Evaluation Manager Peter Ellis said the business environment had been tough on many operators in the tourism industry.

The ministry's annual telephone domestic travel survey of 15,000 people showed travellers spent a total 48 million nights away from home in the year to June, an average of three nights per overnight trip.

The number of day trips fell 4.3 per cent to 28.9 million, while the number of overnight trips fell 4.4 per cent to 15.9 million.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE