Hobbit effect? Record number of tourists flock to New Zealand

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Hobbit effect? Record number of tourists flock to New Zealand

Ahead of the premiere of the second part of the Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug, Air New Zealand unveiled a 54-metre long image of the dragon on the sides of a Boeing 777-300.

Ahead of the premiere of the second part of the Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug, Air New Zealand unveiled a 54-metre long image of the dragon on the sides of a Boeing 777-300.

It may have something to do with hobbits, but international tourists can't seem to get enough of New Zealand.

A record 2.7 million overseas visitors touched down in this country last year, providing a shot in the arm for retailers, tourism operators, the hospitality industry and the economy.

Tourism New Zealand estimates the extra 114,112 holiday makers last year from abroad spent $NZ365 million ($A346.46 million).

Back again ... tourists can visit Hobbit locations such as the Shire, on farmland near Matamata, about 80 kilometres north-west of Rotorua.

Back again ... tourists can visit Hobbit locations such as the Shire, on farmland near Matamata, about 80 kilometres north-west of Rotorua.Credit: Tourism New Zealand

In addition to a bumper year, December also recorded the highest number of arrivals in any month with 381,000 clearing immigration controls.

Tourism NZ chief executive Kevin Bowler says the growth for the year was driven by traditional long-stay markets and the biggest source of tourists - Australia.

The number of American tourists visiting was up 21.3 per cent on a year earlier while the number of arrivals from Australia, Canada and Germany also grew strongly.

"This continued growth is extremely positive, with Germany showing a great resurgence. Furthermore, the stabilisation of the UK market continues ahead of our projections, with holiday arrivals up 9.9 per cent for the month and 5.7 per cent for 2013," Mr Bowler said.

Arrivals from China, which now provides the second biggest number of tourists to New Zealand, rose 16.2 per cent during the year but fell by 10.6 per cent in December as the impact of the China Travel Law took effect.

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The law, introduced on October 1, sets minimum standards for tour packages offered by travel agents in China which has led to up to a 30 per cent hike in the cost of a tour.

Mr Bowler said the new law was supporting its strategy of higher quality itineraries with better experiences to lift the value of the Chinese market to New Zealand and figures showed that tourists from China were travelling more widely and spending more than last year.

"This is very positive as we head into the Chinese New Year celebration which is historically China's busiest travel period," he said.

The number of arrivals from Indonesia, where Tourism NZ upped its activity last year, grew by 11.9 per cent.

TOURIST ARRIVAL FIGURES FOR 2013

Leading countries:

Australia 1,218,016

China 228,928

USA 201,424

UK 191,632

Japan 74,560

Germany 69,808

Total visitors: 2,717,695

Fastest growing markets:

Thailand up 22.2 per cent

Taiwan up 16.8 per cent

China up 16.2 per cent

Singapore up 16.1 per cent

USA up 13.4 per cent

Source: Statistics NZ

AAP

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