RECORD IN TRAVEL

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 23

RECORD IN TRAVEL

Figures For Last Year

There was a record number of travellers to and from New Zealand during the year ended March 31 last, said the Government Statistician (Mr J V. T. Baker) yesterday. Excluding crews and shortstay visitors, there were 427,857 travellers. This was a rise of 59,266 (16.1 per cent )over the previous year. Arrivals in New Zealand numbered 219.939, and departures 207,918, an increase on the previous year of more than 29.600 in each case. There were 12,021 more arrivals than departures. Mr Baker said that 55.265 short-stay visitors, such as tourists on cruising liners, visited New Zealand during the year.

While the number of New Zealand residents leaving permanently increased by 430 to 18.589, the number of immigrants decreased to 35,299, a drop of 147 from the previous year.

All persons who had lived in New Zealand for at least one year and left with the intention of being away for at least one year were classed as residents leaving permanently, Mr Baker said. They would include persons on working holidays. study courses, and extended tours. Such persons were classed as immigrants intending permanent residence when they returned to New Zealand. The number of persons on working holidays in New Zealand nearly doubled, most coming from Australia. Last year, 11,912 persons came to New Zealand on working holidays, compared with 5995 in the previous year.