Records Broken For Travelling

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 3

Records Broken For Travelling

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 11. The number of travellers to and from New Zealand broke all records last year as the boom in overseas travel continued.

Nearly 220,000 people arrived in the year ended March 31, 1966. This is an increase of nearly 30,000, according to figures released today by the Government Statistician (Mr J. V. T. Baker). However, nearly 208,000 people left New Zealand. This left a net gain of 12,021. These figures do not include crews and short-stay visitors such as tourists on cruise liners. The number of short-stay visitors, 55,265, was a big increase on the previous year’s figure of 40,253. The popularity of New Zealand for Australians on working holidays is notable. In 1964-65 the figure was just below 6000. Last year it was nearly double that at 11,912. Against this, the number of New Zealanders leaving the country for more than 12 months reached nearly 18,600. The number of immigrants intending permanent resi-

dence dropped by 147 to 35,299. But included in this figure are those who left New Zealand for extended visits more than 12 months before. Members of the armed forces leaving and re-entering the country are not included in the statistics.

Total arrivals and departures were nearly 428,000, the highest recorded for any one year. The increase of 59,266 on 1964-65 is 16.1 per cent.