China law changes tourist mix
November 27, 2013 | Events
Tourism New Zealand spokesman Chris Roberts said the new laws had changed the dynamic between New Zealand and other countries and between lower-value group tours and higher-spending free independent travellers. Prices for group tours to Australia had increased around 50 per cent.
"A typical low-cost tour was five days in New Zealand and three days in Australia visiting chosen shops every day with a little bit of tourism chucked in - all of those shops were connected to the operators of the tour and paid [money] back to them," he said.
"The very low end seems to have disappeared but the middle ground will take a while to go."
In Rotorua and Auckland Chinese tourists were being dropped in retail areas and allowed to do "free shopping" rather than being herded into selected shops.
Chinese travellers were traditionally taken to souvenir shops where they were sold health products, wool duvets and animal fur rugs.
There had been a surge in Chinese travellers before the new law came into force leading to a drop in overall numbers in October.