Chinese Tourism Numbers Climb

Chinese tourists in New Zealand outspent American visitors last year for the first time on record. Spending by Chinese tourists gained 26 per cent to $457 million last year, the Ministry of Economic Development said. New Zealand’s tourism industry, which makes up about 9 per cent of gross domestic product, is encouraging visitors from China as weak economic growth in the US and Europe, and earthquakes that struck Christchurch, deter arrivals. Last year, China became New Zealand’s largest source of imports as the country’s total foreign trade rose by 10 per cent to a value of more than $92 billion.