18 Jan 2010

New Caledonian travellers defy recession

6:51 pm on 18 January 2010

Travel figures from New Caledonia show its residents defied last year's global recession.

They show New Caledonians took 3.8 percent more trips overseas in the first 11 months of last year than over the same period in 2008.

The figures also show that from 2001 to 2009, New Caledonians increased their total number of trips by 63 percent.

The figures, published by the territory's daily newspaper, show that in January and February of last year one of six residents travelled abroad.

20 percent more than 2008 opted to travel to New Zealand.

Australia, which is the main foreign destination, saw 21 more New Caledonians.

Reports for the current summer say Auckland and Sydney flights are more heavily booked than ever before.