Chinese tourism market upbeat

New Zealand, 20th September: Chinese tourism is emerging as a top market in New Zealand with the nation welcoming a record high number of Chinese tourists.

As per the official figures revealed by New Zealand’s Ministry of Economic Development, revenue coming from Chinese tourists’ spending in New Zealand will surpass those coming from the UK and the US.

Increased spending by Chinese visitors--Predictions say the year 2013 will witness a high spending of $604 million from Chinese visitors. And Chinese travelers will overtake the US and the UK tourists coming to New Zealand in the year 2014.

Nonetheless, Chinese tourists will still remain far behind Australia which is going to remain the biggest source of New Zealand tourism as the predictions reveal expenditure of $1.9 billion for the year 2016.

According to Liz MacPherson, deputy secretary of ministry of tourism, natural calamities and global economic upheavals resulted in a strong effect on the tourism industry.

The scene seems to be bright for the coming five years period with a slight change in the origin of tourists flocking to New Zealand, added MacPherson.

Among the most promising markets include China and Malaysia. Increased number of tourists from China and Malaysia coming to New Zealand has resulted in great benefits of the New Zealand economy, she maintained. Predictions reveal stability in the overall tourism spending in the coming years with an increase in the tourism spending to $6.6 billion in the year 2016.

Introduce travel-friendly New Zealand visa rules--This positive outlook predicted for New Zealand tourism is welcome news for the nation, said Tim Cossar, chief executive of Tourism Industry Association. He has also urged the government of New Zealand to introduce certain relaxations in New Zealand travel visa rules to make them friendly for foreign travelers.

These include introducing SmartGate quick passport checks for foreign travelers, increased public holidays and decreasing travel duties and taxes for attracting more overseas tourists to New Zealand, Cossar added. These steps can go a long way in boosting the number of visitors from foreign nations choosing New Zealand for traveling.

Moreover, domestic travel can be increased by introducing Anzac Day and ‘Mondayising’ Waitangi Day on weekends, he suggested.