A fall in spending by UK visitors to New Zealand was seen by 18.6 percent, to $826 million, in the year to June from the earlier year. On the other hand, spending by international visitors fell 2.6 percent.

The Ministry of Tourism specifies that a sum of $6 billion in the year to June was spent by international visitors.

Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism research manager, said: "After nearly a full year in which the New Zealand tourism industry has been impacted upon by the global recession and the worldwide decline in tourism activity, it is reassuring that the impact on tourism expenditure has been limited."

It won't be wrong to say that the annual fall in spending of 2.6 percent closely matched the 2.8 percent fall in international arrivals over the period. Similar adverse affects resulted from the recession hitting the UK market.

Though an impressive growth in arrivals was seen from Australia; however, many people who came, visited friends and family. As such, spending by them fell 3.3 percent to $1.6b.

However, an increase in spending by US visitors was seen by 1.7 percent to $608 million, though arrivals from this market were soft.

Mr. Bassett continued, "Spending by Chinese visitors increased 28 percent to $334m, despite a 13.2 percent fall in arrivals. This was put down to a boost in the number of long-stay education travelers."

A notable expenditure growth of 18.8 percent to $285m was recorded from German visitors, based on a 3.2 percent increase in arrivals.