China is New Zealand's second-largest international tourism market, with almost 400,000 visitors coming to New Zealand over the past year.
China is New Zealand’s second-biggest source of tourists behind Australia and for the past few years our fastest-growing visitor market.
In the year to March, 404,000 visitors from China visited New Zealand, up 7 per cent on the previous year.
Three-quarters of those are here on holiday. Chinese are spending more as they travel more independently instead of on bus tours, and last year spent on average $4213 for a nearly nine-day stay.
According to Tourism New Zealand, more than 26 million Chinese are actively considering New Zealand for a holiday.
Statistics released by New Zealand Statistics Agency on Monday show that international visitors to New Zealand hit a record high within the 12 months ending in July 2017.
In terms of the source countries of international visitors, last July saw 6000 international visitors arrive in New Zealand via Australia and 3100 international visitors arrive in New Zealand from China during the same period.
According to New Zealand's Ministry of Commerce, Innovation and Employment, by 2023, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to New Zealand is expected to exceed one million.
China and New Zealand had then just signed a Approved Destination Status agreement which let Chinese holiday travelers visit a country in a tour group, the second such agreement after Australia.
