New data is revealing the extent of the latest tourism boom, with record numbers of visitors into the country.

Almost half a million foreign tourists arrived in December alone.

That's the highest ever monthly intake according to Statistics New Zealand.

The biggest increase was in visitors from China, up 43% from the previous December.

Last year more than three million international holidaymakers visited New Zealand, a yearly jump of 10%.

About a third of them were from Australia, with China and the United States also contributing big numbers.