Business is booming for the tourism industry with international visitors spending $11.1 billion in the year to September.
Photo: povalec/123RF
The latest figures released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment show spending increased by 7 percent from the previous year.
The average visitor spend rose by four percent to $3300 during the same period.
Ministry business and economic development manager Antony Kennedy said China has boosted the overall spend by 14 percent to $1.63 billion.
"This coincided with a rise in the number of visitors from China, up 11 percent over the same period," Mr Kennedy said.
German visitors spent significantly more in the year to September, up 16 percent to $572 million.
"A weaker New Zealand dollar against the Euro [down 9 percent over the year] has meant European visitors' money goes further and they are able to spend more while in New Zealand," Mr Kennedy said.
The International Visitor Survey asks visitors to share all spending, except international airfares.
It only includes spending from travellers aged 15 years and older.