Regions are continuing to benefit from the tourism sector’s focus on attracting more visitors outside peak periods, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released today show most regions showed growth in tourism expenditure over the year to May 2016.

The fastest growing region was Otago, which increased ten per cent over the year to $3.2 billion, followed by Nelson (up nine per cent to $295 million) and Auckland (up eight per cent to $6.7 billion).

A 17 per cent rise in the number of overseas tourists to New Zealand in May shows a Government and tourism sector push to attract shoulder season visitors is working, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Statistics New Zealand figures show the number of people holidaying here from overseas in May this year was 87,552, up 17.3 per cent on May 2015.

“It is no secret that New Zealand’s tourism sector is doing spectacularly well. We want to ensure that this success is spread across the year and across our regions,” Mrs Bennett says.

New monthly data which estimates how much tourists are spending by region will help both industry and communities better plan for the future, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The first Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates has been released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) in response to calls from tourism industry stakeholders who wanted more usable and accurate statistics for regional tourism spending. It replaces the Regional Tourism Indicators.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has today announced the Government is investing in a further three projects to help boost tourism in the regions.

“Tourism is vitally important to our economy, with over 160,000 people employed in the sector,” says Mr Key. “Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is investing $8 million per year to support innovative projects that will create new opportunities in tourism throughout New Zealand.”

The Government is investing more than $1.2 million in seven new projects for the upkeep and maintenance of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key announced today.

The investment comes from the fourth round of the Maintaining the Quality of the Great Rides Fund and priority has been given to proposals that aim to improve safety and quality of the Great Rides – the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

It is estimated a total of 26 additional hotels, above and beyond what is currently planned, will be needed over the next ten years to meet expected tourism demand in our major tourist centres, according to new independent research released today by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

The research is a key part of “Project Palace”, a programme to accelerate new private sector investment in New Zealand’s hotel infrastructure led by NZTE and the Government’s Investment Attraction Taskforce.

Spending by international tourists in New Zealand has topped $10 billion for the first time, further evidence of the sector’s importance to the economy, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

International visitor spending increased 25 per cent to $10 billion in the year to March 2016, according to the International Visitor Survey released today.

“Surpassing $10 billion in visitor spend for the first time confirms that the tourism sector is continuing to grow and is adding significant value to the economy,” Mrs Bennett says. 

Budget 2016 will provide $25 million in additional funding over the next four years to ensure the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Nga Haerenga continues to offer a world-class visitor experience, Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key announced today.

The investment is part of a $45 million tourism package in Budget 2016 to further support tourism’s contribution to economic and job growth in regions across New Zealand.

The Government will invest an additional $20 million over four years to further support tourism across New Zealand, Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key announced today.

“This funding builds on the wide range of Government support already in place to assist the sector to provide high-quality experiences that attract high-value visitors all year round,” Mr Key says.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key today announced the Government is investing in three new projects to help boost tourism in the regions.

“Tourism is a significant part of our economy and a major employer,” says Mr Key. “Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is investing $8 million per year to support innovative projects that will create new opportunities in the tourism sector.”

The new projects are:

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed new forecasts showing tourism expenditure is expected to grow by 65 per cent to $16 billion in 2022.

The forecasts are contained in the New Zealand Tourism Forecast 2016 - 2022 report released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) at TRENZ today.

“Tourism makes an important contribution and is critical to New Zealand’s economic success, so it’s great to see such a positive outlook for the growth of the sector,” says Mrs Bennett.

Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett today welcomed a decision by the Office of the Chief Censor to ban three slogans on Wicked Campers’ vans.

The Censor has ruled that the slogans meet the criteria for objectionable publications.

“This is a real victory for everyone that has seen the vans and been offended by the awful slogans and images on them,” says Mrs Bennett.

“This will send a clear message to Wicked Campers that their offensive slogans are not welcome here and its time they cleaned up their act.

New Zealand’s economy will get a boost of more than $50 million when an additional 10,000 Chinese visitors holiday in Queenstown in 2018, says Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key. 

Each year, Amway China rewards its top sales people with an all-expenses paid international trip as part of the company’s sales incentive scheme. 

Thanks to a competitive business bid led by Tourism New Zealand, Amway’s top sales people will enjoy five days of New Zealand’s famous tourism experiences and hospitality in Queenstown. 

An international mountain biking event backed by the Government is underway and expected to inject millions into the Rotorua economy.

Crankworx, visited by Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett today, is the world’s biggest mountain biking festival and last year added $3.68 million to Rotorua’s economy.

Rotorua was able to attract the Crankworx festival after a $225,000 Tourism Growth Partnership grant helped Skyline Rotorua to upgrade its facilities.

International visitor spending has increased by 31 per cent to $9.7 billion in the year to December 2015 according to the latest International Visitor Survey.

“These figures further confirm that the tourism sector’s focus on increasing both value and volume is working, with high-spending overseas visitors choosing to spend their money in our country,” Mrs Bennett says.

A new online one-stop-shop for tourism data will help businesses and regions take advantage of unprecedented growth in the industry, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The New Zealand Tourism Dashboard brings together a range of tourism datasets produced by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and Statistics New Zealand.

Key figures released today show tourism is continuing to boom in almost every part of the country, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The December 2015 Accommodation Survey shows national guest nights were 6.2 per cent higher than the year to December 2014, the 21st consecutive monthly increase.

“In towns and cities across New Zealand, local communities I visit tell me about the positive impact tourism growth is having, in jobs, business growth, and a sense of being able to share what they love about their slice of paradise,” Mrs Bennett says.

The decision by P&O Cruises to base a ship out of New Zealand is an endorsement of our growing cruise industry, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Pacific Pearl will spend five months based out of Auckland, the longest deployment of a P&O ship in New Zealand.

Mrs Bennett today attended a celebration on board the Pacific Pearl to mark the beginning of the Downer National Rugby League Auckland Nines.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced further funding to maintain and improve the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Applications are now open for the fourth round of funding through the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund, a Government initiative to maintain and enhance the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

“This funding is part of the Government’s $8 million investment over four years to ensure the Great Rides are maintained to their current world-class standards,” Mr Key says.

A new hotel opening in New Plymouth will create 70 jobs and support more tourism growth in the Taranaki region, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Novotel New Plymouth Hobson Hotel opened by Mrs Bennett today is the first 4.5-star modern hotel with a global network to open in New Plymouth City. The hotel has 85 rooms, a restaurant and bar, conference centre and meeting rooms.

“It’s an honour to open this beautiful new hotel and support a city as vibrant and positive as New Plymouth,” Mrs Bennett says.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced the Government is investing almost $530,000 in 10 new projects that will contribute to enhancing and maintaining the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

The funding comes through the latest round of the Maintaining the Quality of the Great Rides fund and Mr Key said priority has been given to proposals that aim to improve the safety and quality of the Great Rides - the premier rides of the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

Research released today focusing on Chinese visitors’ preferences will support further strong growth in the tourism sector, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The China Visitor Insight report presents key findings into the needs of Chinese travellers to New Zealand and will to help local businesses develop a deeper insight into the expectations of independent Chinese travellers.

Promoting New Zealand as an outstanding tourist destination and stronger ties between nations is the focus of Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett’s visit to Argentina this week.

Mrs Bennett travels with Air New Zealand today aboard its inaugural flight to Buenos Aires. A Boeing 777-200 will operate three return services a week out of Auckland.