China soars in tourism stakes

New Zealand holidaymakers shied away from traditional destinations in the past year but flocked to China in record numbers.

Short-term New Zealand resident departures to China surged 41 per cent to 21,524 in the year to March, Statistics NZ says.

Adventure World, an Auckland travel agency specialising in Chinese tours, said the traditional flow of family and friends visiting China had been overtaken by tourists in the past two years.

"The huge growth is in tourism and we've seen that in our business, definitely," said marketing manager Caroline Clegg.

The numbers made China the most popular tourist destination in Asia for Kiwi travellers. Only Australia, the United States, Britain and Fiji were more popular in the past year.

Overall, short-term departures dropped 1 per cent to 1.28 million, the first fall since 1992, due mainly to the effects of the terrorist attacks of September 11.

In the year to March last year, short-term departures to China were up a third on 2000, which were up 13.9 per cent on 1999, which were up 16 per cent on 1998.

"It just keeps improving," Ms Clegg said.

"There's a real mixture. There are the young professionals who have money and a few weeks' leave, but we also find there are a lot of 45-plus, 50-plus age group, people who have a lot of money and a lot of time."

Four to six-week tours were most popular, she said. Popular Chinese attractions were Beijing, the Great Wall, the terracotta warriors of Xi'an, the islands of Guilin and the Yangtze River.

Fiji also enjoyed a resurgent year, with Kiwi visitor numbers up 18,900 or 42 per cent, in the past year, recovering from a slump after the George Speight-led attempted coup.

China's popularity for the year to March is in stark contrast to the US (Kiwi departures down 12,900 or 16 per cent), Britain (down 10,100 or 14 per cent) and Australia (down 17,300 or 3 per cent).

Holidaymakers accounted for 42 per cent (539,100) of all departures, while 30 per cent (381,400) left to visit friends and relatives and 17 per cent (215,900) went on business.

But while overall travel numbers have been down for the year, last month showed signs of a pickup. New Zealand residents departed on 101,200 short-term overseas trips in March, up 10,500 or 12 per cent on March last year.

More people went to Australia (up 3600), Fiji (up 1300), China (up 1100), Thailand and Hong Kong (both up 700), Indonesia (up 600) and Malaysia (up 500).

- NZPA