New information showing how much overseas tourists are spending in the Bay of Plenty underlines the need for a new welcoming gateway and tourism hub, says Tourism BOP CEO Kristin Dunne.

New data is showing cruise ship passengers and crew spending in the Bay of Plenty is the second highest in the country, second only to Auckland.

Cruise visitors contributed $59 million to the local economy, based on credit card spending by cruise visitors to New Zealand in the 2016/17 season.

It's the first time MBIE has officially measured cruise ship visitors credit card spending and officially recorded it.

The $59m spent by cruise passengers in the Bay of Plenty represents 20 per cent of the total national $306,464,000 cruise passenger expenditure.

'Lyttleton, Wellington and other cruise destinations have recognised the country's fastest growing tourism market and are heavily investing. The Bay of Plenty's proposed $5m facility is urgently needed,” says Kristin.

'We are determined to deliver on the industry's need and the community's wish to build a Hub fit to welcome our visitors. Tourism in the Bay of Plenty needs careful management to ensure it provides what is best for both visitors and the community, and this cannot be achieved without providing appropriate infrastructure.”

Tourism Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City Council continue to seek the additional $1m of funding required for the new Regional Cruise Gateway and Welcome Hub. The $1m required will enable the proposed ‘iconic' facility to be built.

The largest passenger ship to call at New Zealand the Ovation of the Seas is in Port today is bringing 4180 passengers, measures 348 metres and weighs 168,666 tonnes.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and Statistics New Zealand Tourism Satellite shows the Bay of Plenty's cruise passenger economy is ahead of all other New Zealand port destinations by at least $31m.

Dunedin received $28m in cruise expenditure, Canterbury received $26m and Wellington received $25m. The cruise expenditure accounts for shipping agents, providoring (ship supplies), bunkering (fuel), shore excursions, and ground spend.

The retrospective cruise expenditure reported by the Tourism Satellite Account also shows significant growth rates year on year.

The Bay of Plenty cruise passenger expenditure has grown 15 per cent and 20 per cent year on year for the last two years.

The region is set to welcome 113 cruise ships in the next season which is 39 per cent more than the 83 ships expected this season.

The 113 ships visiting the Bay of Plenty next season are set to bring 235,500 passengers and 102,100 crew.

This growth represents a significant economic opportunity for the community to maximise; however, the logistical issues that come with it need to be managed.