A flood of Chinese tourists has been helping to fill the arrival halls of Auckland Airport in record numbers.
A new high of more than 780,000 international travellers went through Auckland Airport in December, up almost 5 per cent on the same month a year before.
In December alone, more than 25,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Auckland, up more than 38 per cent on the same month last year, the biggest jump in percentage terms of any top ten market.
Chinese arrivals in the month were close behind those from the United States at about 25,000, up 6 per cent on a year ago.
Statistics NZ figures out last Friday showed the rush of Chinese tourists helped lift national tourist arrivals by 5 per cent in December, with more international visitors expected to come on the back of a falling Kiwi dollar, cheaper jet fuel and more Hobbit fans.
Statistics NZ figures showed total visitor arrivals hit 402,500 in December, up 20,600 from December 2013 despite the high New Zealand dollar.
China was the biggest source of growth, with 39 per cent more visitors from China than in 2013.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler it had been a "stellar" year of growth and was expected to carry on this year.
More tourists are coming from China as more direct air links open up between the two countries, with the prospect of more to come. There are also more independent travellers coming here, rather than group tours.
After a strong year, tourism is expected to get a further boost this year as both the New Zealand dollar and international jet fuel prices tumble, Infometrics economists said.
The Tourism Industry Association said the latest figures showed good progress towards a 2025 goal of tourism adding $41 billion a year to the economy.
Total visitor arrivals numbered 2.86 million in the December 2014 year, up 5 per cent from the December 2013 year and better than expected.
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