Increased tourism opportunities to thank for record seasonal spend

August 29, 2016: High-quality events, increased retail opportunities and a thriving restaurant culture are just some of the reasons why the Bay of Plenty has increased visitor spend in a typically quiet period, says Tourism Bay of Plenty CEO Kristin Dunne.

The Bay of Plenty is once again a top performing region in the tourism sector, drawing in $63 million in visitor spend for the month of July – a typically off-peak season for the coastal location.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTE), released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), indicate the region saw a 12.5% increase in expenditure from $56M at this time last year.

This result placed the Bay of Plenty ahead of coastal-orientated destinations Northland ($58M), Dunedin ($47M) and Hawke’s Bay (38M), as well as international tourist mecca Rotorua ($55M), for the month.
It was good news across the board, as domestic spending had increased in the Bay year-on-year to $53M (up 15%), while international was on-par with last year’s results at $10 million.
The off-peak season is typically a quiet period for a region, which is famed for its world-class beaches, sun and surf, but this month’s expenditure has helped push the Bay’s total spending for the year up 8% from 2015 to an estimated annual result of $873M in visitor spend.

Domestic visitor spend for the year was also up 8% to $698M, compared to 2015, and international spend up 10% to $176M.

Kristin says the increase is a credit to Bay residents and organisations, who work hard to create opportunities for growth and development.

“It’s a testament to the businesses that look for ways to make our region a vibrant, attractive destination that we are seeing such a positive increase. It’s also a reflection on our people, who are welcoming and inviting, and make our visitors want to stay longer and enjoy the benefits of the Bay.

“This month we had a number of drawcards, including the Winter Carnival in Tauranga and the Little Big Markets events, that find ways to operate no matter the weather. It’s attractions like this that help build the Bay as a go-to place for both domestic and international visitors.

“Internationally, we are still a bit off the national pace, but we are pleased that the sales efforts we are undertaking in India, Asia and the Americas are starting to show dividends – especially with visitors from India, China and Singapore, who prefer to travel during off-peak season.

“We’re pleased with how the year is progressing and look forward to the months ahead, as we continue to work with councils, businesses and community organisations, and keep pushing towards reaching our vision to be a $1B industry.”

According to the MRTEs, which measure expenditure of the international and domestic visitors in New Zealand, the tourism sector nationwide for the month of July increased visitor spend by 4% year-on-year from $1.6B to $1.7B, with $580M being contributed by international visitors and $1.1B by domestic tourists.

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