Tourists handing over more to try the Kiwi experience

By SIMON HENDERY tourisim writer

Overseas visitors each spent an extra $300 during their stay in New Zealand last year, leaving behind a total of $870 million more than they did in 1999.

The 1.8 million international travellers who visited New Zealand spent a total of $4.7 billion while in the country - 22 per cent more than during the previous calendar year.

An airport survey of departing travellers shows Japanese visitors were the biggest spenders, parting with an average of $4923 each during their stay, or 20 per cent more than they did a year earlier.

US visitors forked out an average $4108, while Germans spent $3957 each.

Although the survey results make Australians look like miserly travellers - spending on average only $1740 during their visit here - the $857 million they spent in total meant they contributed more to our foreign exchange earnings than visitors from any other country.

Across all nationalities, visitors spent an average $3008, 11 per cent more than in 1999.

The survey samples more than 5000 travellers leaving Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports each year. They are asked where they travelled and stayed, and how much they spent here.

The chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, George Hickton, said the survey confirmed industry reports that last year was tourism's best ever.

New Zealand is on track to reach the target of $4.9 billion in annual visitor foreign exchange by the end of June.

"This shows what an increasingly important industry tourism is to the New Zealand economy," Mr Hickton said.

The fall in the value of the New Zealand dollar over the past year has meant tourists are also finding their money goes further.

Industry leaders believe the kiwi's slide - from about 49USc last February to 43USc today - could, in the long term, cement New Zealand's reputation as a value-for-money destination. Decisions to travel here, however, are primarily based on the price of airfare and accommodation packages.