The Western Bay of Plenty experienced one of its highest increases in international guest nights in December 2009, according to Tourism Bay of Plenty. Figures from Statistics New Zealand show international guest nights in the Western Bay in December increased by 16 per cent.

Tim Burgess.

Tourism Bay of Plenty CEO Tim Burgess says that is one of the biggest increases he has seen in recent years.
Domestic visitor nights in the Western Bay increased by about 12.5 per cent in December 2009.
The average number of nights that visitors are staying in the region has increased from 2.62 nights to 2.81 nights, which Tim says would equate to one of the longest average guest night periods in New Zealand.
'There's many things that are driving those increases. A lot of New Zealanders are holidaying closer to home and that's really beneficial to us.”
He says Tourism Bay of Plenty has been trying to increase its marketing to international visitors.
'We are making some inroads in the international market. New Zealand centres such as Rotorua, Christchurch, Queenstown and Milford Sound have been typically promoted to international visitors and it has been a struggle for regions like ours to try and educate visitors about things we do.”
Tim says cruise ship visitors do not contribute to the statistics because the figures originate from guests who stay in motor camps, hotels, lodges, backpackers and motels.
He says promoting the Western Bay to international visitors is an ongoing process.
'We can't just get to a point and then give up,” says Tim.