The number of international visitors to New Zealand is expected to grow about 4 percent a year until 2012, the Tourism Ministry said Monday.

It said by 2012, international visitor numbers are expected to reach 3.1 million, up from 2.4 million in 2005.

The amount they spend is forecast to grow at 6.5 percent per annum over the same period, to reach 10.1 billion NZ dollars (US$6.2 billion) in 2012.

Of the expected three-quarters of a million more visitors, the largest contributors to numbers are expected to come from Australia (up 229,000 or 26 percent), China (up 138,000 or 157 percent) and the UK (up 114,000 or 37 percent).

Together, these countries are expected to account for two- thirds of the total increase.

The Tourism Ministry noted that the China visitor market is expected to overtake the Japan and South Korea markets within the next four years to become New Zealand's fourth largest market behind Australia, UK and the USA.

It predicted Chinese visitors are expected to increase to 226, 000 by 2012, with an annual average growth of 14.5 percent.

Total tourism expenditure by international and domestic tourists is forecast to grow by 37.5 percent from 13.3 billion NZ dollars (US$8.3 billion) in 2005 to 18.3 billion (US$11.3 billion) in 2012.

In 2004 tourism became the nation's top export income earner, surpassing the dairy industry. Tourism currently provides employment for one in 10 workers in the economy.

Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor said the outlook was very encouraging for the industry.

"The long term prospects for tourism remain strong. To have one of our largest industries growing at this sustained rate creates important implications for New Zealand's overall economic performance and reinforces that we must ensure the sustainable use of our vital tourism resources," said O'Connor.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)