Retailers feeling the benefits of tourism

Consumers spent more than $45 million in Gisborne last month and some city-centre retailers and business-owners have benefited from record takings.

Latest figures from Paymark, which processes more than three-quarters of all electronic transactions, show consumers spent $45m in January — a 7.7 percent increase on the same month last year, following an 8.9 percent increase in the number of transactions.

Paymark processed slightly more than one million transactions in Gisborne in January.

Heart of Gisborne manager Lana Davy said with Gisborne experiencing five cruise ship visits since the first week of January, last month’s spending increase could be due to increased tourism.

“January looks to have been a great month in Gisborne’s CBD. Some retailers are reporting a record-breaking month. I believe that the tourism industry is having a great effect on these rises.”

Gisborne Chamber of Commerce chief executive Terry Sheldrake said the “significant” increase in spending was positive news.

“From these statistics one can only assume that this January result represents a solid foundation for many local businesses as we head into the new year. I trust this is viewed by many of our members as confident and positive”.