Visitor arrivals in New Zealand were down 0.2 percent in May, compared with the same month last year, Tourism New Zealand said on Saturday.

The global economic slow-down was blamed for a dip in the number of tourists visiting New Zealand in May.

The number of tourists from the United States dropped by more than 8 percent, while the visitor number from Britain fell by almost 2.5 percent.

Tourism New Zealand said the industry believes this is the beginning of more challenging time given economic pressures around the world and rising food and fuel prices.

But chief executive George Hickton remains positive about continued growth in tourists from China and Canada due to new direct routes operated by Air New Zealand.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2008)