It said there were 229,900 short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in November 2006, up 15,200 or 7 percent in November 2005.

Also more visitor arrivals from Australia, up 6,500 or 10 percent, and Europe, up 5,300 or 10 percent, contributed the majority of the increase.

Seasonally adjusted monthly visitor arrivals were up 1 percent in November 2006, following an increase of 2 percent between September and October 2006.

The 2.410 million visitor arrivals in the year ended November 2006 were the highest recorded for any 12-month period, surpassing the 2.404 million arrivals in the year ended June 2005. The 2006 figure was up 20,600 or 1 percent on the November 2005 year.

There were more visitors from Australia, China and the United States, but fewer visitors from the United Kingdom and Japan, said Statistics New Zealand.

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