New Zealand welcomed 268,259 international visitors during February, an increase of 0.2 per cent compared to the same month last year, according to Statistics New Zealand figures released today.

Visitors numbers from Australia (up 2.5 per cent), the US (up 0.8 per cent), Canada (up 3.4 per cent), Germany (up 2.3 per cent) China (up 6.0 per cent), Japan (up 4.5 per cent) and South Korea (up 3.8 per cent) were slightly higher in February 2011 than the same month last year. However, growth in overall numbers was tempered by a decline in visitors from the UK (down 10.2 per cent).

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said the earthquake in Christchurch on February 22 would be a factor in the slower than usual 0.2 per cent growth in arrivals during February, although a clearer picture of the impact on visitor numbers would not be available until the March and April figures were released.

According to the Statistics New Zealand figures, there was a 5.6 per cent decrease (7,925 people) in the number of visitors who came to New Zealand for a holiday during February 2011, compared to February 2010. That was offset by an increase in people arriving to visit relatives or friends or for business purposes.

New Zealand has welcomed 2,534,349 international visitors in the year to February 2011, an increase of 2.1 per cent compared to the year to February 2010.