Immigration numbers tick up

Friday, 15 March 2019

Statistics for the year ended January 2019 showed a 151,500 person annual increase in visitor numbers.

Statistics New Zealand's latest migration figures show annual net immigration or the year ended January of 58,400 people.

There were 151,600 migrant arrivals for the same period, while migrant departures numbered 93,200.

ASB senior economist Mark Smith said while immigration inflows had earlier signalled a plateauing in net inflows, the latest figures showed a 'strengthening trajectory'.

The migration figures are produced on a new measurement following the phasing out of passenger departure cards in November.

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Net immigration figures are now based on the 'outcomes-based measure of migration', which Stats NZ deems to be a more accurate measure of migration.

This meant recent figures could have been significantly revised, which likely reduces their usefulness.

The figures show while the number of visitors had increased, the rate of growth had tailed off significantly compared to peaks in 2016/17.

Annual total traveller movements across New Zealand's border reached 14 million for the first time in the year ended January 2019.

And visitor arrivals were up 21,100 to 399,300 for January.

Australian arrivals were up 7,800 compared with the same month last year while Chinese arrivals increased 6,600.

Smith said strong tourism inflows remained a major source of economic support for the New Zealand economy.

Tourism numbers were declining from Europe, but visitors from Asia were rapidly growing.

'More tourism infrastructure and focus on providing good value for money of the NZ tourism experience at a time of slowing global growth is the key to prolonging the tourism boom,' Smith said.

Tourism NZ chief executive Stephen England-Hall said holiday visitors from China contributed around $1.7 billion in New Zealand last year.

'As we head into a period of moderate arrival growth it is incredibly important for New Zealand to continue to remain a desirable destination and top of mind as an option for international travellers,' England-Hall said.

'Competition for visitors is increasing through ever-expanding air connectivity and campaign activity by countries with much larger marketing budgets than New Zealand.

'Tourism New Zealand's focus is on building New Zealand's international destination brand to maximise the long-term benefits – like employment, community investment and business opportunities – for the betterment of New Zealand and New Zealanders.'