Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler has attributed a strong rise in the number of visitors from China to the new travel law which came into effect on October 1.
Holiday arrivals from China for the month of September grew 78.4%, year-on-year.
"Travellers sought to take their holidays ahead of the new travel law," Bowler said.
The law effectively requires travel sellers in China to offer better quality, and thus more expensive, group tour packages both domestically and internationally.
"For the first two weeks of October, unofficial figures indicate a dramatic change in the Chinese visitor mix, with the anticipated decrease in short stay group visits and a rapid rise in the number of Chinese visitors travelling independently to New Zealand," Bowler said.
"We expect total visitor numbers from China to be softer in October, but that this decline will be temporary as the market mix shifts to a better quality experiences for visitors.
"Overall it is a positive development for New Zealand tourism, and fits with our strategy to increase the value of the Chinese market to New Zealand."
Total NZ visitor arrivals for the year ending September 2013 were up 2.9%, year-on-year.
Holiday arrivals from other tier one markets reported growth in September, with arrivals for the month from Australia up 4.3% and the USA up 10.6%.
The release of the latest version of TNZ’s 100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New Zealand advertising campaign in September has seen new campaign activity underway across all key markets.
