Earlier holidays boost travel in March

New Zealand residents departed on 13 per cent more overseas trips in March 2010 than in March 2009, Statistics NZ has said.

Visitor arrivals were also higher than the previous March (up seven per cent).

“The earlier timing of Easter and the school holidays, both in Australia and NZ, has resulted in more short-term travel to and from NZ in March 2010,” Population Statistics manager Denise McGregor said.

“Although these holidays did not start until 2nd April, it is common to see increases in travel shortly before holiday periods begin.”

Visitor arrivals from Australia were up 20 per cent from March 2009, while there were more resident departures to Australia, Fiji, the United States, and the United Kingdom.