More international tourists are visiting Christchurch, largely due to an increase in new flight routes

The Garden City had around 132-thousand overseas visitors in the March quarter - a 10 percent rise on last year.

Just over a third visited the city in February alone.

Christchurch NZ's Nick Bryan says March arrivals from the USA were at the highest level since 2009.

He says the airlines investing in Christchurch are investing more in the routes from the US.

United Airlines began direct flights to the city from San Francisco in December.