New Zealand authorities have reported an increase in travel spending by overseas tourists, with Chinese visitors topping the list.
A quarterly report released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on Feb. 20, Friday, said that spending by overseas tourists grew by 13 percent last year, reaching about NZ$7.4 billion.
Based on the ministry's International Visitor Survey, Chinese visitors are top in the list, up by 50 percent from last year's number and passing the NZ$1 billion in terms of expenditures.
The report said that each Chinese visitor spent an average NZ$4,100.
The survey also showed a significant rise in total spending by visitor from the United States, which 32-percent increase, while that of U.K. visitors increased by 29 percent.
On the other hand, spending by Australian visitors, who spent NZ$2.05 billion or NZ$1,800 on average, has dropped by 8 percent.
According to a report by the U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNTWO), China continues to be the fastest-growing tourism source in the world. From 2000 to 2012, the volume of Chinese travelers on international trips has grown from 10 million to 83 million.
The agency also noted that expenditures by Chinese tourists have increased eightfold during the same period. In 2012 alone, Chinese travelers have spent a record high $102 billion, a 40-percent increase from the previous year.
UNTWO said that the increase in the number of Chinese travelers may be attributed to rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes and the lifting of certain restrictions on foreign travel by the Chinese government.