Statistics New Zealand has revealed that tourist numbers jumped by the most in seven months in December, boosting optimism that the global economic crisis will not affect the country’s tourist trade as badly as was initially feared.

Having increased by one per cent in November, the largest increase since May, tourist numbers increased 3.9 per cent in December, taking the number of short-term visitors to 205,950 over the course of the year. Permanent and long-term arrivals outpaced departures by approximately 280.
 

Tourist operators are hoping that the value of the NZ dollar will decrease at a quicker pace than the global economy erodes the demand for travel and industry which comprises roughly 10 per cent of the New Zealand economy.

Robin Clements, chief economist at UBS New Zealand said: “The overall travel / migration data-flow for December was mildly positive.” However, he added: “the anecdote on forward-bookings for the tourist sector - February is peak season - remains pessimistic, consistent with the fall-out from the global downturn yet to impact on arrival numbers.”

2008 also saw the lowest rate of migration to New Zealand for eight years, suggesting that migration will not be the answer to the much-needed revival of the housing market. In 2008, net migration to New Zealand fell to 3,800 from 5,500 in 2007.

“The migration picture is important for housing and, hence, the rest of the economy,” Clements said. “It will take several more months to establish an improving trend, which we anticipate, as less New Zealanders leave and more return.”