WELLINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's visitor arrivals fell 28,000 to 283,900 in April 2018, compared with the same month last year, although the number of Chinese visitors still saw the largest increase, the statistics department Stats NZ said on Monday.
The number of Chinese visitors increased by 7,200 to 46,500 in April, while visitors from Australia were down 20,800 to 109,800, visitors from Britain down 3,400 to 12,700, visitors from the United States down 2,600 to 22,300, Stats NZ said.
"Last year's April saw particularly high visitor numbers with Easter, Anzac Day, and the school holidays all falling in the same month, making it an attractive option for many trans-Tasman holidaymakers," population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said in a statement.
Over 130,000 Australians visited in the April 2017 month and helped contribute to last year's record April month arrivals, which were 311,900. With Easter this year starting in March, the usual boost in numbers was less concentrated in the April month, Theyers said.
Meanwhile, arrivals for the April 2018 year increased 5.4 percent to 3.79 million. Australia contributed the most visitors with 1.47 million, followed by China with 444,900 and the United States with 337,600, statistics showed.
The number of Kiwis who took flights overseas in April 2018 was almost unchanged from April last year. Australia, the United States, and Fiji were the most popular destinations for resident travelers this month, together accounting for 55 percent of all resident departures, Stats NZ said.
Over the April 2018 year, the largest increase in New Zealand departures was to Fiji, with an additional 22,800 Kiwis travelling to Fiji, compared with the April 2017 year, it said.