Tourism expenditure passes $20 billion

Source: Stuff.co.nz

30 June, 2008 

Financial benefits reaped through the tourism industry grew nearly 5 per cent in the year to March 2007, with tourism expenditure passing $20 billion.

Tourists spent $20.1 billion in the year to March 2007, according to the Tourism Satellite Account, released today by Statistics New Zealand.

This was an increase of $896 million (4.7 per cent) from the previous March year.

Total tourism expenditure includes spending by both international and domestic tourists.

The main products bought were retail goods, including fuel (30 per cent); air travel (19 per cent); food and beverage (12 per cent); and accommodation (9 per cent).

The report said cheaper trans-Tasman airfares and a strong New Zealand dollar had led to continued strong growth in the number of New Zealanders holidaying in Australia and other overseas destinations.

International tourism contributed $8.8 billion to total New Zealand exports, and domestic tourism expenditure was $11.3 billion.

International visitors increased 2.8 per cent in the year to March 2007, following a decrease of 0.4 per cent in the year ended March 2006.

The tourism industry directly employed 108,100 full-time equivalent employees, or 5.8 per cent of total employment in New Zealand.