Domestic travel spending up by $1.5 billion

11 September 2012

Domestic travel spending up by $1.5 billion

Domestic tourism spending has increased by nearly $1.5 billion in the year ending June 2012, the latest Domestic Travel Survey shows.

Produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the latest survey shows $10.4 billion was spent on domestic travel in the 12 months to June 2012, up 16 percent on the previous 12-month period.

Tourism Research and Evaluation Manager Peter Ellis said the increase in domestic travel spending was particularly strong for New Zealanders visiting friends and relatives and for business travel.

“The latest 12 months shows a continuing surge in spending on business trips, which rose by 21 percent to $3.5 billion. That is a $600 million increase.

“For the last three quarters, spending on business trips has exceeded that of holidays – something we’ve never seen before.”

Mr Ellis said the increase in domestic travel spending also reflected higher food and transport costs.

“Spending by domestic travellers on food and alcohol rose by 18 percent to $2.8 billion in the year ending June 2012, while transport costs rose 15 percent, to $3.6 billion, most likely a result of higher petrol prices.”

The Domestic Travel Survey is an annual phone survey of 15,000 New Zealand residents and is undertaken throughout the year. Domestic travel data collected includes day trips (where 40km has been travelled one way from home) and overnight trips. The latest survey covers domestic travel trends for the year ending June 2012.

ENDS

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