Tourists spend almost $2 billion in Bay

Domestic and international visitors injected almost $2 billion into the local economy. File photo.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show the tourism spend for Bay of Plenty is estimated to be $1.8 billion for the year to January 2017.

It represents a 7 per cent increase compared with the year to January 2016.

MBIE Manager of Sector Trends Peter Ellis says of this tourism spend in the year to January 2017, international visitors spent $586 million (up 6 per cent compared with the year to January 2016), and domestic tourists spent $1.15 billion (up 7 per cent) in that period.

'When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Bay of Plenty for the month of January 2017 is up 5 per cent compared with the month of January 2016.”

The earthquake last November made a significant impact on the total spend locally in North Canterbury, which includes Kaikoura and Hurunui Districts. Marlborough and Wellington, two other regions affected by the earthquake, had a slight drop in tourism spending in the month of January 2017 compared with January 2016.

Other regions in the South Island have recovered from the impact of the earthquakes in November, with international and domestic tourism spending higher in Canterbury, Tasman and the West Coast.

To view the full statistics from the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates, visit the MBIE website.

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4 comments

Yeh but

Posted on 23-02-2017 21:37 | By maildrop

Never mind that, make them take a driving test. Be sure to include on the test how to avoid the plethora of shocking Kiwis swinging about the road. Cheers Winston.


Driving Test?

Posted on 24-02-2017 09:03 | By waiknot

In our haste to politically correct we lump all tourists in the can't drive basket. We need to target the countries that do not have a robust driver testing system and countries where it is easy to just purchase a Licence. And probably wouldn't hurt if us locals brushed up on the road code occasionally.


waiknot

Posted on 24-02-2017 12:06 | By maildrop

Interesting points. Where I come from, and from what I've seen, NZ would be in that basket! It has been well reported that truck licences in particular can be bought, so no doubt other licences can as well. And as for a robust testing system it can't be great given the number of terrible drivers about. Interestingly, the test was only toughened up a couple of years ago so that probably helps explain. What are those sayings....get your own house in order......glasshouses..etc.. Too many one eyed people listening to an old fool.


golly gosh

Posted on 24-02-2017 12:54 | By old trucker

If that much has been pumped in use it to upgrade things and take the weight off ratepayers,all these one way streets they have planned at the MT is probably all been signed off,my thoughts only,Thanks Sunlive,10-4 out.


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