Region
The commentary below presents the regional context for tourism in the year ending June 2019 (and for the June 2019 quarter where available). Key findings are below:
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Growth in tourism spend shared across regions
The Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTEs) show that most regions achieved growth in tourism spend for the year ending June 2019, with growth particularly strong across the central North Island regions and Canterbury. The fastest-growing regions were Wellington (up 6.8 per cent), Gisborne (up 5.9 per cent) and Taranaki (up 5.8 per cent).
Source: Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates, MBIE
Growth in regional accommodation guest nights exhibited a similar pattern, with strong growth across the central North Island in particular. The fastest-growing regions were Taranaki-Manawatu-Wanganui (up 3.9 per cent), Wellington (up 3 per cent), and Waikato (up 2.9 per cent).
Source: Accommodation Survey, Stats NZ
Growth in spend seen in both domestic and international visitors
Growth in visitor spend was driven by a mixture of domestic and international visitors, to varying degrees across the regions. Gisborne, Taranaki, and Wellington had strong international spend growth, up 11.7 per cent, 10.4 per cent, and 9.7 per cent respectively. These Regions also had strong domestic spend growth, with Gisborne up 4.5 per cent, Taranaki up 4.6 per cent, and Wellington up 5.5 per cent, for the year ending June 2019.
Tourism spend in the West Coast was down 3.3 per cent for the year ending June 2019, with accommodation guest nights declining 5.3 per cent over the same period. This follows the extreme weather front that caused wide spread flooding and demolished the Waiho Bridge in March 2019.
International guest nights to the West Coast were down 7.3 per cent for the year ending June 2019, while domestic guest nights were down 1.7 per cent. Guest nights for domestic visitors were likely buoyed somewhat due to the volume of volunteers to the region, which aided in the clean-up.
West Coast affected by extreme weather
Tourism spend in the West Coast was down 3.3 per cent for the year ending June 2019, with accommodation guest nights declining 5.3 per cent over the same period. This follows the extreme weather front that caused wide spread flooding and demolished the Waiho Bridge in March 2019.
International guest nights to the West Coast were down 7.3 per cent for the year ending June 2019, while domestic guest nights were down 1.7 per cent. Guest nights for domestic visitors were likely buoyed somewhat due to the volume of volunteers to the region, which aided in the clean-up.