Thursday, 07 December 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / Travel

West Coast celebrates new attractions as visitor spend returns to pre-pandemic levels

Thomas Bywater
By
Thomas Bywater
17 Nov, 2022 01:46 AM2 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
The West Coast is on a roll thanks to returning international visitors. Photo / Supplied, DWC

The West Coast is on a roll thanks to returning international visitors. Photo / Supplied, DWC

Tourist spend has exceeded 2019 levels on the West Coast, thanks to returning visitors from Australia and the US.

For the month of October international visitor spend returned to 69 per cent of pre-pandemic levels to $4.1 million, according to MarketView.

With help of strong domestic demand, this tipped the total visitor spend above $14 million for the first time since 2019.

Although there has been a slight dip in domestic tourism since mid pandemic, monthly New Zealanders visiting the West Coast were up 40 per cent on 2019 levels.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Development West Coast say this ongoing support has helped the region through a tough pandemic period, with many Kiwis having never visited before.

Research carried out by the tourism board found that one third of domestic visitors were on their first trip to the Coast and around 92 per cent wanted to come back again.

“Kiwis have supported the Coast during Covid and as the borders reopen, we want them to think of the Coast as their own backyard,” said destination and tourism manager, Patrick Dault.


Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Amanda Aveyard and Loren Rigby owners of Delighted Ice Cream and Dessert Parlour. Photo / Supplied, DWC
Amanda Aveyard and Loren Rigby owners of Delighted Ice Cream and Dessert Parlour. Photo / Supplied, DWC

While there were plenty of Kiwis visiting for the first time the Coast is well and truly re-opened to international tourism.

Australians were leading the charge as the largest group, with 38 per cent of tourism spend, followed by the USA 17 per cent and the UK at 13 per cent.

This has been great news for the hard-hit tourism business. After two years of closures and businesses going into administration, the Coast is celebrating its first new attractions.

The West Coast Treetop Walkway will open its new zipline for Christmas. Photo / Supplied, DWC
The West Coast Treetop Walkway will open its new zipline for Christmas. Photo / Supplied, DWC

Apolline Faye brought her desert truck ‘Crêpe and Snow’ to the bottom of Glacier country and Haast, just in time for summer.

“I decided to open a food caravan to bring something new to the West Coast, something different for the locals and tourists,” she said from her mobile desert wagon at the most westerly point of SH6.

Meanwhile Hokitika has opened Delighted Ice Cream and Dessert Parlour and by Christmas will be welcoming the first guests onto the new zipline through the West Coast Treetop Walkway.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Travel

Top 5 destinations for Kiwi couples in 2023 - Flight Centre study

06 Dec 06:00 AM
Premium
Travel

Which of these European wonderlands does Christmas better?

06 Dec 05:00 AM
Travel

Where are Kiwis flocking to for Christmas?

06 Dec 02:36 AM
Travel

Airline offers Kiwis $30 flights, expert says air fares will drop in 2024

06 Dec 12:00 AM

The heart of a spectacular holiday

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Travel

Top 5 destinations for Kiwi couples in 2023 - Flight Centre study

Top 5 destinations for Kiwi couples in 2023 - Flight Centre study

06 Dec 06:00 AM

Kiwi couples gravitated towards five destinations when travelling this year.

Premium
Which of these European wonderlands does Christmas better?

Which of these European wonderlands does Christmas better?

06 Dec 05:00 AM
Where are Kiwis flocking to for Christmas?

Where are Kiwis flocking to for Christmas?

06 Dec 02:36 AM
Airline offers Kiwis $30 flights, expert says air fares will drop in 2024

Airline offers Kiwis $30 flights, expert says air fares will drop in 2024

06 Dec 12:00 AM
Immerse yourself in Japan’s world of omotenashi
sponsored

Immerse yourself in Japan’s world of omotenashi

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP