Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures released yesterday estimate the tourism spend for the region was $3.5 billion for the year to April 2017, up 8% compared with the year to April 2016.
MBIE sector trends acting manager Ben Wallace said $2 billion of the spending was done by international visitors (up 12% compared with the year to April 2016) and $1.5 billion by domestic tourists (up 3% over the same time frame).
MBIE developed the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates in consultation with tourism industry representatives to create a better measurement of the value of international and domestic tourism in the regions.
Data users can filter the information to get the data they need, including breaking down into key areas within regions, country of origin spending, tourism product grouping such as accommodation, passenger transport and retail sales, and by year.
The data was based on administrative transaction data, he said.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan was not surprised by the data.
"We’re seeing significant rises, not only in the number of people visiting, but the amount they were spending."
He said the shoulder season was getting smaller and the number of overseas flights arriving into Auckland was continuing to grow.
"The signs are that this growth will continue. ‘‘We need to make sure it’s sustained manageable growth of what is a great economic story for the country."