Rugby World Cup attracts 133,200 overseas visitors

The Rugby World Cup attracted an impressive 133,200 overseas visitors, Statistics New Zealand has revealed.

53,200 arrived in October 2011, while there were 80,000 rugby arrivals between July and September.

"Australia was the main source of arrivals for the Rugby World Cup, with 55,200 players, officials, and fans visiting from across the ditch," Population Statistics Manager Andrea Blackburn said in a release.

After Australia, most visitors arriving for the Rugby World Cup during the July–October period were from the UK (19,100), France (11,100), South Africa (8,500), the United States (5,500), and Ireland (4,300).

Visitors were asked to indicate on their arrival card whether they were in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. A small proportion of arrival cards did not include the Rugby World Cup question. As a result, some people may not have been included in the Rugby World Cup figures.

The influx of visitors for the Rugby World Cup led to a 17 percent increase in total visitor arrivals in October 2011, compared with October 2010.

Image: Getty