The increase in direct flights from China to New Zealand has attributed a 1.7 percent increase in overseas arrivals for the month of November compared to the same month last year.

The New Zealand government reported the total visitor arrivals numbers reached 230,000 in November, which is the same month that China Southern Airlines began daily flights between Guangzhou and Auckland, China Daily reported.

According to figures by statistics New Zealand, Australia maintained its place as New Zealand's largest tourist market, with Australian visitor numbers rising 7.6 percent year on year.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said Australia accounted for about 44 percent of all visitor arrivals in the year to the end November 2011.
Statistics also showed consistent growth out of Asian markets in November 2011, with the visitor numbers from China up 3,685, Malaysia up 1,320 and Singapore up 863 up from last year.

"China Southern Airlines' commencement of daily flights into New Zealand from November 1 will have certainly supported this outcome," Mr Bowler said.
"The steady upward trend we continue to see out of Asia is a reminder that this market is where continued focus is required."