Despite continued growth from parts of Asia, international arrivals into New Zealand fell by 3.7% during July 2011 to 176,084 when compared with the 182,904 arrivals in the same month in 2010 last year, Statistics New Zealand reports.
July arrivals from China were up 20.6%, Singapore up 17.3% and Malaysia up 74% continued a strong run of growth. However, this was not enough to offset falls from the United Kingdom, down 11.9%, United States, down 12.7%, Japan, 32.6%, Korea, down 17.2% and Germany, down 7.2%.
New Zealand welcomed 91,664 Australian visitors during July, a decrease of 3.3% compared with the same month last year.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler said in a statement on Friday further analysis of Australian arrivals during July revealed a more positive picture as the month progressed.
"A weekly breakdown of Australian arrivals through July shows a much improved second half of the month, where numbers were only marginally down on last year," Mr Bowler said.
"The beginning of the month saw larger declines compared to last year and it's quite possible there was a hangover from the transtasman flight disruptions experienced in June due to the Chilean ash cloud."
Mr Bowler said the brightest news was again coming out of Asia. For the fourth month in a row, Singapore and Malaysia delivered double-digit growth on the back of the new aviation links which started in March and April this year.
"The growth story is similar for China and initiatives such as the recent improvements Immigration New Zealand has made to the Chinese travel visa application process, should help boost the number of Chinese visitors even further in future."
