Tourism spending up $7.8 million in Hawke's Bay in March

Hundreds take part in the Big Easy at Easter. Photo / File

Events such as the Big Easy cycle event and an influx of visitors over Easter has helped account for a big spike in tourism spending in Hawke's Bay, which was up by $7.8 million last month.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) showed tourism spending for Hawke's Bay was estimated to be $636m for the year to March 2018, up 6 per cent compared with the year to March 2017.

Visitor spending for the month of April rose to $65m - a 12 per cent jump from March last year.

MBIE manager of sector trends Mark Gordon said in the year to March 2018, international visitors spent $167 million (up 11 per cent compared with the year to March 2017), and domestic tourists spent $469 million (up 5 per cent) in that period.

"When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Hawke's Bay for the month of March 2018 is up 12 per cent compared with the month of March 2017."

Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said tourism operators had enjoyed the spoils of success based on a packed Easter activities calendar.

"March was a great month, many commercial properties felt it was a stronger month than February and it was also helped by a an Easter full of events for all ages and stages. We were expecting it to be a strong month.

Easter-based events brought in crowds of visitors last month. A total of 2000 people entered the sixth 42km The Big Easy cycle event from Black Barn Vineyards to Church Road Winery - a record turnout.

Mr Gordon said MBIE developed the MRTEs in consultation with tourism industry representatives to create a better measurement of the value of tourism in the regions.

"Tourism spending information for the regions helps inform investment and planning in the tourism industry by providing insight into where both domestic and international tourists are spending their money."