External Migration: December 1999
Visitors Exceed 1.6 Million
There were 205,390 visitor arrivals in December 1999, about 10,000 or 5 per
cent more than in December 1998, said Government Statistician Len Cook.
This increase pushed the annual number of visitor arrivals to over 1.6
million for the first time. For the December 1999 year there were 1.607
million visitors, up 123,000 or 8 per cent on the previous year.
Seasonally adjusted visitor numbers fell by 5 per cent between November and
December 1999. This follows a record high in the month of November 1999.
In general this series has been increasing since March 1998.
In December 1999 there were increases in visitors from Australia (up
7,560), the United States (up 6,110), Korea (up 2,770), China (up 1,350)
and Germany (up 1,120) when compared with December 1998. However, there
were fewer visitors from the United Kingdom (down 3,400), Thailand (down
1,040) and Japan (down 890).
In December 1999 permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by
240, compared with a net loss of 230 in December 1998 and a net gain of 570
in December 1997. There was a net gain from the United Kingdom (1,390),
but a net loss to Australia (2,040). Seasonally adjusted net permanent and
long-term migration has generally become less negative, with fewer losses
since August 1998.
During the year ended December 1999 permanent and long-term departures
exceeded arrivals by 9,030. This was up 44 per cent on the net outflow of
6,260 in the December 1998 year.
Len Cook
GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
ends