International visitors behind tourism boost

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A $4m increase in spending by foreign tourists is a reason for 2015 being a bumper year for the region’s $135m-a-year tourism industry.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show that tourism spend for Gisborne is estimated to be $135 million for the year to December 2016, up seven per cent compared with the year to December 2015.

MBIE Manager of Sector Trends Peter Ellis says that of this tourism spend in the year to December 2016, international visitors spent $28 million (up 14 per cent compared with the year to December 2015), and domestic tourists spent $107 million (up five per cent) in that period.

“When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Gisborne for December 2016 is level compared with December 2015,” Mr Ellis said.

Tourism Eastland president David Sly said it was brilliant news for the region.

“From our point of view it’s showing that while we are a small player we can still be out there and tourism is an important economic driver for this region.”

Mr Sly said the increased spend from international visitors showed Gisborne was not missing out on a nationwide tourism boom.

“People are now looking further afield into provincial areas and the real New Zealand. It is brilliant news and shows that we are getting the increases like the rest of the country.”

Across the whole of the Tourism Eastland area, which also includes Wairoa and Opotiki, the total yearly spend was $159m, up $10m from the previous year.

Nelson, where spending increased 15 percent to $340 million, experienced the biggest increase, followed by West Coast, up 13 per cent to $488 million and Otago up 12 per cent to $3.5 billion.

Tourism Minister Paula Bennett said all regions had experienced growth over the year.

“It’s fantastic to see the regions really benefiting from strong tourism growth. This spending brings a real boost to local economies, benefiting businesses with increased trade and creating jobs.”