The number of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand has dropped by six percent, or around 14-thousand people - in the past six months

Auckland International Airport says it's a reminder of the need for New Zealand to keep looking for new potential markets for inbound tourism.

The airport's commercial general manager, Scott Tasker, says a slowdown in China's domestic economy has prompted some to put off overseas holidays or spend less on them.

Some Chinese airlines are also consolidating services after adding seat capacity for several years.

Stats NZ says the fall off from China has been more than offset by increased arrivals from Australia - our biggest tourist market - and from the US, the third-largest market behind China.