Visitor numbers up at International Antarctic Centre

The International Antarctic Centre, a hands-on exhibit and information hub on the outskirts of Christchurch, is experiencing record growth in visitor numbers.

Antarctic Centre director Richard Benton said visitor numbers were up by 13,000 to 200,000 visitors in the year to April, from the same period in 2003.

With international visitors making up about 80 per cent of all those to the International Antarctic Centre, the trend appeared set to continue, he said.

Overall, the year-to-year number of arrivals in New Zealand has increased 2.9 per cent in contrast to the 1.2 per cent decline in global travel.

Australians were the largest group of visitors to the centre, a steep rise from the previous year when they ranked third behind those from Asia and the United States.

Mr Benton said cheap airfares were encouraging more Australians to take advantage of the benefits of flying to New Zealand.

Australians were also more likely than other visitors to travel in the low and shoulder seasons.

- NZPA