Visitor numbers rebound after earthquake

 

Seasonally adjusted visitor arrivals increased 8 percent between March and April 2011, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows a 12 percent decrease between January and March 2011, influenced by the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February.

"Despite the overall recovery, visitor arrivals from Japan and Korea were half the level seen last April," acting Population Statistics manager Adele Quinn said. "Sharp declines in visitors from these countries began after the Christchurch earthquake, and before the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan."

In contrast, there were twice as many visitors from Malaysia compared with April 2010. This followed the launch of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch in April 2011, and additional Singapore-Auckland flights that started in March 2011.

Short-term trips by New Zealand residents were up 12 percent in April 2011, compared with April 2010. This was largely due to the later timing of Easter and the school holidays in 2011. More trips were taken to Australia, the United Kingdom, China, and Fiji. There were also more trips to Southeast Asia, following the launch of new flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Net migration up after March decrease

On a seasonally adjusted basis, there was a net outflow of 100 permanent and long-term migrants in April 2011. Net migration decreased from an inflow of 500 in February 2011 to an outflow of 500 in March 2011. This change was mainly due to a jump in departures from Christchurch, after the earthquake that damaged many homes and businesses in the city.

Departures of Christchurch residents remained high in April 2011, numbering 800 – double the 400 departures from the city in April 2010. Since the earthquake on 22 February, the city has experienced 1,000 more departures and 300 fewer arrivals than in the same period of 2010.

New Zealand had a net migration gain of 5,500 in the year ended April 2011, down from 20,000 the previous year, and below the average annual net migration gain of 12,000 over the last 20 years. The decrease in net migration compared with 2010 was mainly due to an increase in departures to Australia.

Geoff Bascand 20 May 2011

Government Statistician