Cup lift for tourist numbers picked to beat quakes

Overseas visitor arrivals data is yet to show the impact of natural disasters in Christchurch and Japan but commentators say this year's Rugby World Cup will help drive recovery.

Statistics New Zealand said short-term visitor arrivals were up 2.1 per cent for the year ended February at 2.5 million, with 0.2 per cent growth that month compared with the previous year.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said the earthquake in Christchurch on February 22 would be a factor in the slower-than-usual growth that month.

However, the Christchurch earthquake and events in Japan in March were likely to have a bigger impact on arrival numbers during March and April.

"Reduced growth in visitor numbers was inevitable, however the arrival figures for February remained reasonably stable," Bowler said.

It had been a tough time for many operators and Tourism New Zealand had been promoting the fact that New Zealand remained a great holiday destination despite the earthquake, he said.

Bowler was confident growth would return in the leadup to the Rugby World Cup. "I'm confident that with a ski season around the corner, new airline links coming onstream and 85,000 visitors expected for Rugby World Cup we will achieve good visitor numbers for 2011."

Goldman Sachs is forecasting that seasonally adjusted visitor arrivals will fall 10 per cent in the June quarter versus the three months ended in March.