International air travel to and from New Zealand rose 0.5 per cent to 8.73 million in 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today.
In 2006, 55 per cent of all passenger movements were overseas visitors to New Zealand, 43 per cent were New Zealand residents on short-term overseas tripsand 2 per cent were permanent and long-term migrants.
Four out of every five visitors to New Zealand in 2006 came from the top 10 source countries.
The leading source was Australia (38 per cent of all visitors), followed by the United Kingdom (12 per cent). Two-thirds of visitors stayed two weeks or less and just 15 per cent stayed for more than four weeks.
Australia was also the most-visited destination by New Zealand residents, with half of all short-term overseas trips in 2006 to that country.
The second most-visited destination was Fiji, accounting for 6 per cent of all trips. However, in 2006 there were fewer trips to both Australia (down 1 per cent) and Fiji (down 3 per cent) than in 2005.
Two-thirds of trips by New Zealand residents were for two weeks or less, while 17 per cent were away for more than four weeks.
In 2006, there was a net inflow of 14,600 permanent and long-term migrants including a net 10,900 from the United Kingdom and 11,400 from Asia. There was a net outflow of 20,700 to Australia.
There were net outflows in the 20-24 and 50-54 year age groups, but net inflows in all other age groups including 3000 people aged 30-34 and 2800 people aged 25-29.
