Tourism in New Zealand

Tourism in New Zealand is the country's biggest 'export' earner with two million tourists visiting per year. [http://www.tourismnewzealand.com/tourism_info/about-us/corporate-overview/corporate-overview_home.cfm Corporate Overview] (from the Tourism New Zealand corporate website. Retrieved 2007-09-30)] New Zealand is marketed as a "clean, green" adventure playground, with typical destinations being nature areas such as Milford Sound and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, while activities such as bungee jumping or whale watching exemplify typical tourist attractions.

The vast majority of tourist arrivals in New Zealand come through Auckland Airport which handled over eleven million passengers in 2004. Popular destinations include Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Milford Sound and Queenstown. Many tourists travel large distances through the country during their stays, typically using coach lines or hire cars.

International travel

Overview

New Zealand is a popular destination for a number of countries in Asia and worldwide. New Zealand was also named the best overseas holiday destination in a "The Daily Telegraph" poll, the United Kingdom's largest such poll. Since the start of a 2000 advertising campaign by Tourism New Zealand, there has been a 61% increase in the number of Britons coming New Zealand. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10479434 UK readers vote NZ best holiday destination] - "The New Zealand Herald, Saturday 01 December 2007]

Tourism New Zealand, the country's official tourism agency, is actively promoting the country as a destination worldwide. Recent activities include a NZ$7 million campaign in China, concentrating on Shanghai, [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/organisation/story.cfm?o_id=219&objectid=10438801 $7m more to sell NZ to China] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Thursday 10 May 2007] and cooperating to produce a New Zealand tourism layer for Google Earth, the first country to receive such a treatment. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/organisation/story.cfm?o_id=219&objectid=10433895 NZ's 100% Pure and Google Earth in world first] " - "New Zealand Herald", Thursday 12 April 2007]

Environmental impacts

Public concern over the environmental impacts of air travel may threaten tourism growth in New Zealand, as almost all tourists fly long distances to reach New Zealand. However, Ministry of Tourism data predicts a four per cent annual growth in tourist numbers in New Zealand, with 3.2 million tourists annually to be reached in 2014. [" [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=14&objectid=10461299 NZ tourism strikes long-haul snag] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Monday 03 September 2007]

It is however unclear how New Zealand's carbon-neutral policy will affect future tourism - with some researchers arguing that the carbon emissions of tourism are much higher than generally considered, that their offsetting or mitigation will be very difficult, and that this poses a serious threat to the country's major source of foreign income. [" [http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/carbon-policy-spells-end-tourism-bonanza Carbon policy spells end of tourism bonanza] " - "National Business Review", Thursday 03 January 2008]

Domestic travel

Periodic campaigns are also directed at New Zealanders, urging them to travel within New Zealand instead of overseas, due to a perception by the tourism industry that too many New Zealanders are travelling to Australia or other countries instead of domestically." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10463827&ref=rss Stay in NZ, urges tourism industry] " - "The New Zealand Herald", Sunday 16 September 2007] Perhaps the best known slogan is "Don't leave town until you've seen the country". However, due to lack of competition, fares for some domestic flights can be higher than those for flights to, for example, Australia.Fact|date=December 2007

Domestic tourism was worth NZ$7.6 billion (including transport costs) in the year ending March 2007, a growth of 9.1 per cent on the year before. Domestic tourism itself was growing by 1 to 1.5 per cent a year in the recent years, as noted by the Ministry of Tourism.

Tourist activities

Popular tourist activities in New Zealand include sightseeing, adventure tourism, tramping (hiking) and camping. Ecotourism is also become an increasing segment of the tourism market. Direct flights from Australia to Queenstown has boosted winter tourism.

ee also

* Tourism New Zealand, official tourism agency
* Tolkien tourism, on the effects of the "Lord of the Rings" movies

References

External links

* [http://www.tourism.govt.nz/ New Zealand Government - Ministry for Tourism]
* [http://www.tourisminfo.govt.nz/ New Zealand Government tourism marketing agency]
* [http://www.newzealand.com/International/ Tourism New Zealand]
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