Kiwi OE travels hurting tourism at home

Kiwis are heading overseas instead of to home destinations like the Southern Alps. Photo / Supplied

Kiwis are taking more overseas holidays and fewer at home, leaving the local tourism industry hurting.

"There's no question that the domestic tourism market in New Zealand is under quite a degree of stress, and that has been the case for the last 12 to 18 months, at least," said Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Crossar.

"It makes up about 50 per cent of the total industry, so it's an important market that is under real pressure.

"It's one where operators have noticed a decline, and they're concerned."

He said some people were substituting domestic holidays for overseas trips, but this was not the dominant factor.

"It's just recessionary behaviour. People don't have discretionary income and people are saving."

Ministry of Economic Development figures show the number of overseas holidays taken by New Zealanders increased by 6.3 per cent last year with a 20 per cent increase last December over December 2009.

In the same period there were falls in domestic tourism, including a 10.2 per cent fall in day trips and a 4.8 per cent fall in overnight trips.

The total amount spent on domestic tourism fell by 3 per cent, from $8.9 billion to $8.64 billion.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister John Key, who is also Minister of Tourism, said the strong New Zealand dollar was a factor in tempting New Zealanders to holiday abroad.

"But domestic tourism still comprises the bulk of tourism in this country," she said.

"While New Zealanders should continue to make their own holiday choices, New Zealand is a wonderful country and we will continue to encourage Kiwis to holiday at home."

Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson this week pleaded for Australians to take their holidays within Australia, in an effort toreinvigorate the domestic tourism market.

Part of the reason Australians were heading overseas was the amount of leave workers had stored up, which he described as "a disgrace".

Tourism Australia has been running a "No Leave, No Life" campaign to entice Australians to holiday in Australia.

According to the campaign's figures, workers have stored away 118 million days and $33 billion in accrued annual leave.

One in four Australian fulltime workers had accrued more than 25 days leave.

Mr Crossar said he did not believe workers in New Zealand built up annual leave like their transtasman neighbours.

"It doesn't appear that that's ever come up as an issue. It doesn't appear to be as severe here as it is in Australia."

Kiwis take flight
Overseas holidays taken by New Zealanders
Last year: 6.3 per cent increase.
Last December compared with December 2009: 19.9 per cent increase.

Domestic tourism, last year
Day trips: 10.2 per cent decrease.
Overnight trips: 4.8 per cent decrease.
Visitor nights: 1.6 per cent decrease.
Total spending: 3 per cent decrease.