Domestic tourist travel patterns in New Zealand

Abstract

Recent emphasis on the growth in overseas arrivals has overshadowed domestic tourism which, nevertheless, remains a very significant social and economic activity in New Zealand. This paper analyses the geographical dimensions of tourist travel using data from the Domestic Travel Study. Once broad national trends are identified, inter-regional travel patterns are examined using dominant flow analysis and regional profiles are established by means of ternary graphs. This analysis shows the dominance of the major metropolitan markets, the regionalized nature of much domestic tourism and regional variations in visitor profiles. Regional population size plays a major role in determining overall flows but what appears to make the difference between a net loss or gain in total bednights is a region's ability to attract holiday visitors. This underscores the value which the promotion of domestic tourism may have in regional development.