Value of New Zealand tourism on the up

Acting Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Brighid Kelly says increasing the value of tourism is the organisation’s main priority.

 

“It’s positive to see that the financial contribution from international tourism is significant with holiday spend contributing $6.3 billion.”

 

“We will continue to focus on attracting high value visitors to New Zealand to encourage further visitor spend growth.”

 

The strongest growth in expenditure was driven from Asia, with Japan (up 23 percent) and Korea (up 90 percent). The growth comes from an increase in visitor numbers during the year and also an increase in average visitor spend from both Japan and Korea.

 

“The spend growth includes increases in off-peak spend and that’s great news for the industry and New Zealand’s economy.”

 

Alongside value growth, the volume of the tourism sector also continues to rise. Last year 3.4 million visitors came to New Zealand and at the current rate of growth this will double in seven years. Recently tourism was also announced as New Zealand’s top export earner.

 

Brighid says: “Despite the recent quakes we expect a positive summer period.”

 

“It’s extremely important that that people who have plans to visit or were thinking of visiting understand that much of New Zealand is unaffected and that there are many alternatives available to people who wish to come to here.”

 

“We have been busy ensuring that the world knows that New Zealand is still open for tourism and International media have helped this along by running accurate stories about the impact of the quake damage.”

 

“We will continue to keep international tourism trade and media updated as the situation in Kaikoura changes and look at how we can support the tourism industry in the area as they recover from the events.”