Arrivals and departures top nine million

In the year ended September 2007, annual passenger movements (arrivals and departures) topped ninemillion for the first time, Statistics New Zealand said today.

This comprised of 4.953 million overseas visitormovements, 3.892 million short-term New Zealand resident movements and 157,700 permanent and long-term migrant movements.

Fifty years ago, in 1957, there were 145,500 passenger movements in and out ofNew Zealand.

This number is now reached in less than a week.In September 2007, there were 168,800 visitor arrivals, an increase of 2,300 on the 166,500 visitor arrivalsin September 2006.

There were more visitors from Australia (up 2,100 or 3 percent) but fewer from Korea(down 1,700 or 20 percent).

Visitor arrivals from Japan increased for the first time since June 2005 (up 700or 10 percent).In the year ended September 2007, there were 2.475 million visitor arrivals, up 91,300 (4 percent) from theprevious year. There were more visitors from Australia, China and the United Kingdom, but fewer visitorsfrom Japan and the United States.

New Zealand residents departed on 208,500 short-term trips in September 2007, up 6,500 (3 percent) onthe 201,900 trips in September 2006.

The increase coincided with the Rugby World Cup held in France andthe United Kingdom in September and October 2007.

New Zealand residents departed on 4,000 more tripsto France and 2,500 more to the United Kingdom than in September 2006.

In the September 2007 year, New Zealand residents departed on 1.943 million trips, up 76,100 (4 percent)from the previous year.

Trips to Australia were up 40,900 (4 percent) but trips to Fiji were down 14,100 (13percent).

On a seasonally adjusted basis, permanent and long-term (PLT) arrivals exceeded departures by 700 inSeptember 2007. Actual PLT departures of New Zealand citizens were up 400, compared with September2006.

Net PLT migration was 8,300 in the September 2007 year, down from the net gain of 13,200 in theSeptember 2006 year