The latest monthly regional tourism estimates show Wanaka brought in $54million from tourism last month, a 30% increase on December 2015.The town also leads in year-on-year spending increases, with tourism spending up 18.8% in 2016.
Tourism spending in the South was strong, with Fiordland (14.1%), Central Otago (12.9%), West Coast (12.7%) and Queenstown (12.6%) rounding out the top fivemarkets last year.
Dunedin’s year-on-year spending was also above the national average at 8.7%. Close to $700million was spent by tourists in the city last year.The city also showed strong spending growth last month, up 13.3% on December 2015.
Waitaki pipped the national average of 8.3% growth with an 8.5% increase in year-on-year tourism spending last year.
Only Clutha and Southland lagged behind the national average in tourism spending.
Tourism spending accounted for $3.5billion throughout Otago last year.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment manager of sector trends Peter Ellis said international visitors accounted for $2billion of that spending, while domestic tourists brought $1.5billion into the region.
"When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Otago for the month of December 2016 is up 10% compared with the month of December 2015," he said.
A further $600million was spent by tourists in Southland.
November’s earthquakes in North Canterbury affected spending there. It was the worst performing region in New Zealand last year, with a 3.7% increase on 2015 tourism spending.
The earthquake discouraged tourists from visiting the region last month, with tourism spending down 28% compared with December 2015. It was the only region to have negative growth last month.
