Domestic and international tourists are expected to be spending up large in the Bay of Plenty this year.

The latest monthly regional tourism estimates released by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show that the tourism spend for Bay of Plenty is estimated to be $1.8 billion for the year to May 2017, up six per cent compared with the year to May 2016.

'When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in the Bay of Plenty for the month of May 2017 is up four per cent compared with the month of May 2016,” says MBIE Manager of Sector Trends Mark Gordon.

He says the international visitors spent $599 million, up six per cent compared with the year to May, 2016 and domestic tourists spent $1.2 billion, up six per cent.

MBIE developed the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates in consultation with tourism industry representatives to create a better measurement of the value of tourism in the regions.

'Tourism spend information for the regions helps inform investment and planning in the tourism industry by providing insight into where both domestic and international tourists are spending their money.”

The Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates measure the expenditure of international and domestic visitors in regions in New Zealand.

Data users can filter the information to get the data they need, including breaking down into key areas within regions, country of origin spending, tourism product grouping such as accommodation, passenger transport and retail sales, and by year.

The data is based on administrative transaction data.