Record Earnings from Tourism - YE September 2002
Last updated:
April 2008
Media Statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Research Council New Zealand
20 November 2002
Total expenditure by international visitors in New Zealand reached $5.9 billion in the year ended September 2002, an increase of $745 million or 14% over the previous year.
These figures are from the International Visitor Survey released today by the Minister of Tourism, the Hon Mark Burton.
This is the first release of International Visitor Survey data since the Ministry of Tourism assumed responsibility for the survey from Tourism New Zealand, said Ray Salter, General Manager, Ministry of Tourism.
"Tourism is a key driver of our economy and of growth and so the impartial measurement of this contribution is critical to understanding the dynamics of our economy.
"I pay tribute to Tourism New Zealand for its role in establishing and managing the IVS over a number of years. We now look forward to developing the survey and integrating it with the other key elements of the tourism data set that we manage on advice from the Tourism Research Council New Zealand".
Council Chairman, Sean Murray, said that the expenditure performance in what had been a difficult trading year for tourism was quite exceptional. While international visitor arrivals increased by a modest 1.5% over the year ended September 2002, the expenditure performance significantly outpaced this at 14%.
"The driver of the expenditure performance has been in the increase in the average spend per visit which has risen to $3,431. This performance has been achieved through both the increasing spending per day while in New Zealand (up 4% to $172 per day) and through increasing length of stay (up 9.2% to 20 days).
"We are certainly attracting people who are staying longer in New Zealand.
"To achieve this performance in the post-September 11 year, reflects very well on the New Zealand tourism industry, the quality of the New Zealand tourism offer and on our overall ability to adapt to an always changing international operating environment."
Further information on the latest International Visitor Survey data is available on the Ministry of Tourism website at www.tourism.govt.nz or by e-mailing the Ministry of Tourism at research@tourism.govt.nz.
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For enquiries, contact:
Bruce Bassett, Ministry of Tourism, on 04-498-7448.
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