Ticket sales for Hawke's Bay Tourism showcase FAWC! food and wine festival exceeded expectations, a reflection the region's tourism sector is making good progress, the organisation says.
A report prepared for the Hawke's Bay Regional Council said sales of FAWC! tickets this year were up 21 per cent on last year, to 3530.
Thirty-six events were sold out this year, compared with 16 last year, and ticket sales were about $100,000 above budget.
A survey of event attendees found a high level of satisfaction, with 81 per cent of participants indicating they would return for the event next year and 60 per cent saying they would attend the Winter FAWC! events planned for the middle of next year.
"They're the key indicators for us because it means the event is working and it's meeting their expectations," said Annie Dundas, general manager of Hawke's Bay Tourism.