Hawke's Bay's massive month of tourism: Increase in visitor spending tops NZ charts

Business is booming for Clifton Motor Camp site manager Adam Jackson. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay experienced more year-on-year growth in overall visitor spend for the month of August than anywhere else in the country.

And with holiday parks nationwide also up more than 11 per cent from August 2019 to August 2020 according to the Accommodation Data Programme, one local motor camp just had their best weekend since Christmas.

Visitors spent more than $45 million in August, a 10.1 per cent increase from $41.2m during August last year.

This comes despite spending by international visitors being down by 29.9 per cent, as well as the return of Covid-19 in Auckland and rise in alert levels, on August 11.

Domestic visitor spend went up by 18.7 per cent, the sixth highest in New Zealand and the highest for any region in the North Island.

Hospitality was up 34 per cent, retail by 32 per cent and cultural and recreational activities 29.

Domestic visitor spend on accommodation in the Bay also went up 4.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Clifton Motor Camp site manager Adam Jackson said recent spend has far outstripped that too.

He said last year the camp would go a couple of days without anyone staying, this year 20 to 25 sites have been occupied often, with an average of 12 to 15.

And as good as winter was, business has picked up even more over the school holidays:
"The best weekend we've had since Christmas".

"I think we're going to have the best year we've ever had probably," Jackson said.

Winter visitors to Hawke's Bay atop Te Mata Peak. Photo / Paul Taylor

"It's weird because they're not making reservations, they just show up, I've had four today."

Clifton Motor Camp is so busy that Jackson is meeting the board on Thursday night about bringing in more staff.

He is confident the recent trends will hold or get even better over summer.

"Every week I get two or three people who have a new caravan, just bought it, to come and try it out," he said.

"It's really good to have these Kiwis, they're tidy and polite and it's been a lot of fun."

Hawke's Bay Tourism chief executive Hamish Saxton said he was gratified with the result but also acknowledged hard times could still be ahead.

"We are thrilled to not just maintain, but to also grow our share of the domestic visitor market," he said.

"With our borders currently closed to international tourists, it is critical that we work hard to encourage New Zealanders to travel to Hawke's Bay."