The Ministry of Tourism says the long-term outlook for tourism is positive, with the amount spent annually by overseas tourists forecast to increase by nearly double the average in 2011.
Overseas tourist spending in New Zealand, excluding airfares, is down 2% this year, but the ministry expects it to grow by an average of 4.7% each year.
In 2011, however, it's forecast to rise by 9.1% because of the recovering global economy and New Zealand's hosting of the Rugby World Cup.
Research manager Bruce Bassett says that even in the current challenging environment, spending has held up remakarbly well.
