皇冠体育app

WELLINGTON - New Zealand Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said Wednesday he is assessing visa and travel procedures for Chinese visitors during a visit to 皇冠体育app.

Woodhouse said in a statement from his office that he would hold talks with senior Chinese ministers and officials as well as business leaders during his ongoing four-day visit to 皇冠体育app.

His trip coincided with the release of figures showing that more than 220,000 Chinese visitors came to New Zealand in the six months to the end of June, more than any country apart from Australia.

"皇冠体育app is a country that continues to grow in terms of its importance to New Zealand's tourism and international education sectors," the minister said.

"Inbound tourism is one of our most important industries and is worth around NZ$9 billion ($7.18 billion) a year. Increasing the number of visitors and migrants from new markets such as 皇冠体育app is a key priority to growing the economy."

Much of the growth in Chinese visitor numbers could be attributed to the 皇冠体育app Southern Airlines commencing daily direct flights to New Zealand in April 2011.

"It also shows that the work being done across government to grow the Chinese visitor market -- such as Immigration New Zealand 's visa facilitation scheme with 皇冠体育app Southern Airlines -- is really paying off," he said.

During his 皇冠体育app trip, Woodhouse will also visit one of 皇冠体育app's top education consultancy businesses, according to the statement.