Visitor numbers boost economy

GROWING MARKET: Growth in Chinese visitors is partly behind an increase in international visitors.PHOTO/FILE

It seems international visitors cannot get enough of Rotorua, with the city's accommodation providers enjoying their 12th consecutive month of growth in visitor nights by international travellers.

Similarly, the city's attraction businesses have experienced 14 consecutive months of growth from overseas arrivals, while international visitors' electronic card expenditure in Rotorua has increased for the 24th month in a row.

Rotorua Lakes Council Economic Growth Portfolio lead and deputy mayor Dave Donaldson said the visitor industry was Rotorua's largest employer and was making a significant contribution to the local economy.

"It's great to see our Rotorua visitor sector consistently outperforming the national average in international growth. These results have been reinforced by a number of bold investment decisions made by our tourism businesses recently, and with more substantial investment projects on the horizon we can look forward to further growth in the months ahead.

"We have every reason to be optimistic that the strong international visitor trends we're experiencing at present will continue into a very successful summer season - not only for our tourism industry but for the wider Rotorua business community as a whole."

The latest Commercial Accommodation Monitor figures released by Statistics New Zealand for August show Rotorua's commercial accommodation had an increase of 4400 international visitor nights, up 11 per cent on the same month last year, compared with a 3 per cent increase nation-wide.

For the same period, the Rotorua Attractions and Activities Monitor recorded a 17 per cent increase in visits by international tourists, driven mostly by growth from Chinese visitors (up 9900 visits) and Australians (up 2500).

Destination Rotorua's international marketing manager Patrick Dault said Rotorua's visitor industry had been among the best represented regions in New Zealand's international marketing efforts over recent years.

"Rotorua has built very strong relationships with travel wholesalers across all key international markets. Combined with the continual flow of new and upgraded tourism attractions and activities on offer in Rotorua, it's not surprising these travel wholesalers have a renewed interest in selling our destination to their clients."

Regional tourism indicators released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for August show growth in the value of electronic card expenditure by international visitors to Rotorua across a wide spread of businesses sectors, not just in the district's tourism sector.

On top of a 20 per cent increase in international accommodation spending over August last year, and a 28 per cent increase on recreational services, Rotorua recorded a 12 per cent increase in food retailing expenditure and a 151 per cent increase in non-tourism related purchases.