Growth in visitor arrival numbers from New Zealand's largest market, Australia, has increased during November with 7.6 per cent more arrivals against the same month last year.
The figure was released today by Statistics New Zealand as part of its monthly International Travel and Migration survey.

Overall visitor arrivals for the month of November were up 1.7 per cent on last year, with 230,300 visitors coming to New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says Australia has led the way in producing a solid result for the month.

"Australia is by far our biggest market, accounting for some 44 per cent of all visitor arrivals (year-end Nov 2011), so growth in this market typically translates to overall growth for the country.

"The work being done by the Tourism New Zealand team in Australia, in collaboration with our partners, is undoubtedly contributing to these numbers.

"We have several partner campaigns currently running that aim to both capitalise on the interest in New Zealand that grew over the period of the Rugby World Cup and to promote all aspects of the New Zealand holiday experience.

"In particular, our South Island Road Trip campaign that kicked off late September and is being run in partnership with Destination Queenstown, Tourism Dunedin, Lake Wanaka Tourism, Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism and Christchurch International Airport, is clearly supporting these results."

November also saw consistent growth out of Asian markets continue with visitor numbers from China (up 3,685 visitors), Malaysia (up 1,320 visitors) and Singapore (up 863 visitors) up on last year.

"China Southern Airlines' commencement of daily flights into New Zealand from November 1 will have certainly supported this outcome.

"The steady upward trend we continue to see out of Asia is a reminder that this market is where continued focus is required.
"However growth from France is also worth noting - up 4.4 per cent on this month last year. Given the pressures that are impacting on the European economy, this is a great result.

"No doubt the hospitality the French received during the Rugby World Cup 2011 has played a part in boosting tourism numbers," he concludes.