New Zealand visitor numbers rise

June sees seven-year high for New Zealand visitor numbers

The number of people visiting New Zealand last month was the highest the country has seen in June for the past seven years.

According to Statistics New Zealand, 151,100 tourists touched down on Kiwi soil during the period – the most since the British and Irish Lions toured the country in 2005 – and 15 per cent higher than last year.

The annual tourism figures also enjoyed a boost, with 2.6 million people holidaying in the country in the past 12 months.

It is expected that many more could flock to the country with the release of this Christmas’s cinematic blockbuster The Hobbit, in a similar way to that seen when the Lord of the Rings trilogy was released a decade ago.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will showcase the breathtaking scenery of Lake Pukaki, Braemar Station, Tekapo, Glenorchy and Fiordland. The film’s stars will also be present for its world premiere in Wellington on December 13th.

Written by Erin Marshall

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