One in eight jobs held by Western Bay of Plenty District residents are supported by tourism, according to new figures released today by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA).
That figure places the district among one of the most reliant on tourism employment in the country, based on full-time equivalent jobs held by New Zealand residents.
In Tauranga, one in 12 residents' jobs (8.6 per cent) are supported by tourism.
The value of tourism to the Bay of Plenty region was highlighted in the Tourism 2014 Election Manifesto, released today.
The Manifesto also highlighted the $1.13 billion a year international and domestic visitors spend in the Bay of Plenty, equivalent to 11 per cent of the region's gross domestic product.
TIA chief executive Chris Roberts said it highlighted tourism was a significant and valuable part of the region's economy.
"But both the Tourism Election Manifesto and Tourism 2025, the industry-led growth framework, show there is plenty of potential to grow tourism even more.
"We know that tourism supports regional communities across New Zealand, driving regional economic growth and creating employment opportunities," he said.
"The interactive employment and regional visitor spend maps we are releasing today will help us clearly demonstrate that to central and local government politicians, business leaders, decisionmakers and their communities around the country."
Tourism 2025 stressed the need for improved insight into the tourism industry, prompting TIA to team with Statistics New Zealand and Lincoln University to produce the new Tourism Employment Atlas and Regional Tourism Expenditure maps.
Across New Zealand, tourism directly supported 110,800 full-time equivalent jobs - often in areas where few other opportunities exist.
It indirectly supported another 61,300 full-time equivalent jobs. Total tourism employment in New Zealand provides 172,100 full-time equivalent jobs or 8.8 per cent of total employment in New Zealand.
Tourism employment included chefs, pilots, shuttle drivers, tour guides, receptionists, managers, raft guides, education providers and cycle hire operators. Tourism also supported a wide range of other businesses such as supermarkets, farmers, builders and accountants.
"These new regional tourism employment and spend figures paint a really clear picture of how the tourism economy benefits every region in the country, and will be incredibly useful in helping TIA members show their local Parliamentary candidates and decisionmakers the value of the tourism economy," Mr Roberts said.