KEY POINTS:
Visitors to New Zealand are a low-maintenance bunch seeking beautiful scenery, friendly people and hoping to avoid becoming victims of crime.
The Tourism Ministry yesterday released its Regional Visitor Monitor for the year to September in which travellers were quizzed on their expectations, activities and satisfaction with their visit.
Tales of Kiwi hospitality were most widespread among Americans, with 81 per cent expecting to meet friendly and welcoming people. Australians were less enamoured with local personalities, with 69 per cent expecting a warm reception and Koreans even less so, at just 36 per cent.
The most important thing to everyone bar the Germans (who rated friendliness highest) was that New Zealand lived up to its reputation as a place of great natural beauty.
The ministry's research manager, Bruce Bassett, said landscape was obviously a "key driver" but the research showed the importance of treating visitors right on arrival.
The third most important requirement was that New Zealand proved a "safe and secure place to visit" with one in three people rating it a top concern.
In the year to September 2,469,064 people visited NZ, down 0.3 per cent on last year.
However, they spent more - up 4.7 per cent to $6.2 billion in the year to June.
- NZPA
