The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is asking for ideas on how visitor numbers and accommodation data can be collected in future.
The ministry has issued an "accommodation data request for information'', looking for options to fill the breach left by the Commercial Accommodation Monitor, a monthly data collection service which Stats New Zealand announced it would scrap in September.
The survey provided monthly reports on tourist accommodation and could be broken down by region, revealing the number of guest nights and how long visitors stayed.
It was jointly funded by Stats NZ and MBIE - the cost of running it had increased from $520,000 to $2.2million.
MBIE had now issued a request for information through the Government Electronic Tender Service to look at options for alternative sources of accommodation data.
In a statement, the ministry said its tourism strategy was clear about the importance of developing data products which met the information needs of the industry and government.
"Paper-based surveys are no longer the only data-gathering option available.
"The [request] recognises the change in state of data provision by seeking any and all ideas on how visitor volume and occupancy data could be gathered.''
MBIE business and economic development manager Antony Kennedy said it was one part of a broader strategy being developed to deliver immediate and long-term data needs.
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis would host a hui that would "provide an opportunity for a strategic discussion with local and central government and the industry about our information needs and priorities, and the relative funding contribution each party can make,'' he said.
Responses to the ministry's request for information close on June 26.
