AIMS Games injects $3m into Tauranga but more beds needed

Aims Games opening ceremony at ASB Arena last year. The event injected $3m into the Tauranga economy, a new evaluation shows. Photo/file

An event which transforms Tauranga into a mini-Olympics pumped more than $3 million into the local economy last year.

The AIMS Games generated $3.06m from 47,500 visitor nights and expanded the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $1.98 million.

Alan Sciascia, regional manager of Hospitality New Zealand, says the AIMS Games is hugely beneficial to Tauranga but more beds were needed. Photo/file

The figures come from an evaluation of the sporting event's impact on tourism and GDP that was prepared for Tauranga City Council. It showed that the regional return on investment for the games was 537 per cent. The event injected $2.5 million into the region from visitor spending, and an additional $500,000 into the region's event economy.

Hospitality New Zealand regional manager for Waikato and Bay of Plenty Alan Sciascia said there were definite benefits from hosting the games, which attracted athletes, parents, supporters and coaches.

"And those people are also looking for somewhere to eat, somewhere to go enjoy themselves, etc. It's all very positive."

Mr Sciascia said accommodation in the Western Bay became so busy during the games that some people had to stay in Matamata and Rotorua because there weren't enough beds in Tauranga.

He would like to see more accommodation options available, but that could only happen with help from the private sector.

"Creating a hotel or motel, you are talking about millions of dollars."

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said the results more than validated the regional investment in the games. Tauranga City Council contributed $60,000.

"This event attracts more athletes than the Commonwealth Games," he said. "It's one of Tauranga's biggest weeks of the year. AIMS Games has an enormous positive impact on our city and we're proud to support it."

The games stem from a partnership between Tauranga City Council, Sport Bay of Plenty and the four Western Bay intermediate schools.

The AIMS Games

The games are an annual sporting championship in which children aged 11 to 13 compete in 22 different sports.

The 2016 event attracted 9200 students from 278 schools, with competitions hosted across 20 venues during the first week of September.

The total attendance was 17,290 people including competitors, teachers, parent helpers and supporters.

This year's AIMS Games will run from September 10 to 15.