Chinese tourists set to overtake U.S. visitors in NZ spending
Chinese visitor spending at 410 million NZ dollars is closing in on, and may soon overtake, the value of the United State's 443 million NZ dollars visitor economy
Tourists from China are continuing to buoy New Zealand's tourism industry during periods of the economic downturn, the Chilean volcano ash cloud and Christchurch earthquakes, figures from the Ministry of Economic Development show.
And Chinese tourists could soon spend more in New Zealand than
U.S. tourists, New Zealand tourism chiefs said.
Spending by British tourists dropped by 18 percent and by U.S. visitor by 14 percent.
Spending by Australians, New Zealand's biggest market, dropped by almost 6 percent as they spent their strong dollar in other markets.
However, spending by South Korean and Chinese tourists continued to rise, with South Koreans accounting for 4 percent of international tourist expenditure in New Zealand, and Chinese for 7 percent.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said spending by visitors from China was up 12.4 percent.
"Chinese visitor spending at 410 million NZ dollars is closing in on, and may soon overtake, the value of the United State's 443 million NZ dollars visitor economy."
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