Chinese flock in as economy thrives

Tourism in the new millennium will be fuelled by droves of mainland Chinese visitors, who are already heading to New Zealand in record numbers.

Statistics New Zealand figures show that in the year ended November 30, 52,200 tourists from China arrived in New Zealand, a significant 62 per cent more than came the previous year.

Tourism abroad is the latest fad for a growing class of middle-income families in China who have been given freedom to roam by their Communist leaders and can now visit New Zealand and Australia, which were granted approved destination status by Beijing in July 1999.

The Chinese are also increasingly earning enough money to travel overseas as their economy expands by more than 7 per cent a year.

But they still do not rank among the big spenders.

Totally Wellington tourism manager Chris Lamers said: "The problem we have to work on with Chinese tourists is, they don't spend as much as Australians or Americans and so we have to find things to attract spending among the Chinese." Between 1991 and 2001, the number of short-term visitors to New Zealand from China grew an average 34 per cent a year, compared with 8 per cent growth for tourists from other Asian countries and 7 per cent for all other visitors.

In the early 1990s, Chinese tourist numbers struggled to reach 5000 a year. Now they are 10 times that - 52,000-plus last year - which is causing excitement among tourism officials.

"They are one of the most exciting markets in terms of tourist potential in the world," Mr Lamers said.

But he warned that it would not be wise to concentrate on China at the expense of other overseas visitors.

"It is a chicken-and-egg thing ...

"While we don't want to miss out on China's obvious potential, we can't afford to sacrifice the good work done to attract visitors from other markets."

Statistics NZ figures showed the main reason for Chinese visiting New Zealand was for a holiday - 22,500 of 52,200 came for rest and recreation last year, more than double the next largest number, 11,000, who came on business.

- NZPA