New Zealand's online predictions market, iPredict Ltd, will overnight launch stocks predicting whether the Government will relax visa requirements for emerging tourist markets China and India.

The first stock predicts whether the Government will announce before the end of the year that it will waive the requirement for a visitor visa for tourists travelling on a Chinese passport. The second stock predicts the same outcome for Indian passport holders.

iPredict's Chief Executive Matt Burgess explained that of the top 10 countries that visit New Zealand, eight are on the visa-waiver list, so that their tourists don't require a visitor visa. The only two countries in the top 10 that do require a visa are China and India.

"China and India are emerging economies, and strong growth in tourist numbers is projected in the next five years. We are interested to see if the market believes the Government will relax visa requirements in order to attract more tourist dollars from these valuable economies," Mr Burgess said.

The stocks follow on the heels of recent simplification of visa processes to make travel from China to New Zealand easier. Immigration New Zealand has recently implemented changes to the visa application processes for visitors from China, and increased staff numbers at its three China branches. At the same time, China Southern Airlines has commenced flights from Guangzhou to Auckland.

"China is our second largest trading partner, and Chinese tourists are among the biggest spenders when travelling in New Zealand. It makes sense that the Government would look for ways to encourage additional travellers from China," Mr Burgess said.

With no direct flights currently from India to New Zealand, tourist numbers from India have remained relatively flat. However, with Air India announcing it will start flying direct from Delhi to Melbourne later this year, and increased flights from India to other South East Asian hubs, MED is projecting growth of over 60% in Indian traveller numbers by 2016.

iPredict is owned by Victoria University of Wellington. Details on the company and the new stocks can be found at www.ipredict.co.nz

Draft definitions of the stocks are available at https://www.ipredict.co.nz/app.php?do=forum and comments lodged before the end of the day will be considered before trading begins tomorrow morning.