According to the New Zealand Ministry of Tourism, Australian visitors represented 44.3% of total international visitor arrivals in the 12 months to Feb-2010, for an annual growth of 12.2%.
Australia was also the largest market by total expenditure, with Australian visitors spending NZ1.8 billion (USD1.3 billion) in the 12 months ended 2009, a 11.6% year-on-year increase, for 29% of total expenditure levels. Australia, meanwhile, was the largest outbound market for New Zealand residents in the 12 months ended Feb-2010, with 944,857 trips undertaken, a 0.2% year-on-year increase, and 49.0% of the total outbound traffic.
According to Tourism Australia, there were 99,500 visitors from New Zealand to Australia during Dec-2009 bringing the total for 2009 to 1.1 million, unchanged relative to 2008 and representing 19.9% of total arrivals in the year. Looking forward, Tourism Australia is expecting a 1.3% increase in New Zealand arrivals in 2010, with the total expected to grow to 1.3 million by 2015 - or 12.5% above 2009 levels.
In Aug-2009, the Australian and New Zealand governments signed a new trans-Tasman agreement to improve customs processing for Australian and New Zealand passengers travelling between the two countries. The agreement includes the establishment of the SmartGate passenger clearance system, electronic passport checks, direct exit paths and improved baggage screening and is expected to result in the further lowering of travel costs between the countries, stimulating further demand.