New tourism figures out today show overseas visitors are voting with their wallets and endorsing New Zealand’s reputation as a world-class destination, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

International visitor spending has increased by 38 per cent to $9.4 billion in the year to September according to the latest International Visitor Survey.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be involved in tourism in New Zealand,” Mrs Bennett says.

Figures out today show the positive impact tourism continues to have on regional economic growth, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Regional Tourism Estimates for year ending March 2015 have been released today by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

“Tourism continues to go from strength to strength, and these latest figures show that it isn’t just the major tourist destinations that are benefiting,” Mrs Bennett says.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has welcomed today’s announcement by Air New Zealand that it will fly direct between Auckland and Ho Chi Minh City.

The service will begin in 2016, flying three times a week on a seasonal basis between June and October.

“Air New Zealand is the first carrier to fly direct from Auckland to Viet Nam, and the service will give greater choice and lower fares for New Zealand passengers flying to this major South East Asian centre,” Mr Key says.

A Chinese reality TV star’s plea for tourists to take care while driving in New Zealand will help spread the road safety message in one of our most popular tourist markets, Ministers Paula Bennett and Craig Foss say.

The five minute video, released this week in China, is fronted by Huang Lei, the star of China’s number one reality show ‘Dad, where are we going?’ 

It was filmed in New Zealand during Huang Lei’s visit in June, secured by Tourism New Zealand.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced the Government is investing in five new projects to help grow the tourism sector in New Zealand.

“Tourism is New Zealand’s second largest export earner and has a crucial role in growing our economy.  The industry is in great shape and we want to keep that momentum going,” says Mr Key. 

Through the Tourism Growth Partnership Fund, the Government is investing $1.1 million in five new projects across New Zealand.

The projects are:

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has today announced the appointment of Raewyn Idoine to the New Zealand Tourism Board.

Mrs Idoine has an extensive background in the tourism industry having established the Sir George Seymour National College of Tourism and Travel, Natcoll.

“Raewyn’s in depth knowledge of tourism training adds a fresh perspective as we continue the push towards our goal of raising the total value of tourism to $41 billion by 2025.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has today announced the Government will invest $1.5 million to support the promotion of a new air service between Christchurch and China.

Through the Tourism Growth Partnership the Government will invest $1.5 million over three years to support Christchurch International Airport’s promotion of a new direct air service between Christchurch and Guangzhou.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has today announced the opening of the fourth funding round of the Tourism Growth Partnership.

“Under the Tourism Growth Partnership, the Government is making $8 million per annum available to boost innovation and lift productivity in the tourism sector to ensure New Zealand gains more from international visitors’ spend,” says Mr Key.

The Tourism Growth Partnership is a contestable co-investment fund that allows the Government to work in partnership with the tourism industry.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key today announced a further $935,000 will be invested to help complete the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail.

“Once finished, the 310km trail will be a major tourism asset for the Waitaki and Mackenzie Districts, helping attract both local and international visitors to the area,” Mr Key says.

Campaigns promoting New Zealand as an outstanding visitor destination reached more than 1.2 billion people globally last year, Associate Minister of Tourism Paula Bennett says.

Tourism New Zealand’s international PR and media efforts resulted in more than 22,000 stories about New Zealand generated over the year to June 2015.

“This is the equivalent of around 60 stories a day in our key target markets and has supported the achievement of three million annual arrivals, announced last week,” says Mrs Bennett.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key is delighted with today’s figures showing a record three million visitors came to New Zealand in the past year.

“This is a huge milestone for an industry that continues to excel and is a testament to that hard work and the fantastic New Zealand experience offered to those who visit our shores,” Mr Key says.

Mr Key says that in the year ending July 2015, those 3,002,982 visitors, 7 per cent more than last year, also spent a total of $8.7 billion - up 28 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Big increases in South Island’s tourist numbers are contributing to strong regional growth rates, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

Mrs Bennett is in Dunedin and Christchurch today speaking with tourism operators and students about the opportunities and challenges faced by the sector.

“New Zealand’s economy is more diverse and resilient because of the growth we’re seeing in sectors like tourism, and the South Island is experiencing some particularly impressive results,” says Mrs Bennett.

Impressive growth in tourist guest nights has benefits for the wider economy, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The June 2015 Accommodation Survey shows national guest nights were 5.3 per cent higher than the year to June 2014, and this was the fifteenth consecutive monthly increase.

“Tourism operators I meet throughout New Zealand tell me about the positive growth they are experiencing, and these figures are a clear reflection of that,” Mrs Bennett says.

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

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

A new online training module will help ensure visiting drivers stay safe on New Zealand roads, Ministers Paula Bennett and Craig Foss say.

Driving in New Zealand provides overseas travel agents with information about New Zealand road rules and conditions.

“Tourism New Zealand has cleverly packaged together all the relevant safety information, in seven languages, and is offering it free of charge to any overseas travel retailers,” Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Government is investing nearly $400,000 in six new projects to enhance and maintain the quality of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key announced today. 

“This is the second round of funding available through the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund and brings the total investment under the fund so far to $1.36 million,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has welcomed the announcement by Jetstar that the airline will expand its domestic network to regional New Zealand.

Jetstar announced today that from December it will fly to at least four regional locations, with Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill among the destinations under consideration.

“Today’s commitment is more good news for New Zealand and for the regions,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has today announced the Government is investing in two new tourism projects in Rotorua and Blenheim.

Through the Tourism Growth Partnership fund, the Government is investing $350,000 to support the development of a new spa complex on Rotorua’s lakefront, and $1.5 million to support a new exhibition at Blenheim’s Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.

“Tourism is a significant part of our economy and a major employer,” says Mr Key.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has announced a further $3 million will be invested in 2015/16 to help fund the completion of Northland’s Twin Coast Cycle Trail Pou Herenga Tai.

The Government is working with the Far North District Council on the 84km trail which will pass through the centre of the Far North District, from Hokianga Harbour on the west coast to the Bay of Islands on the east.

Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key has welcomed Air New Zealand’s announcement that it will begin operating direct flights between Houston and New Zealand.

The new service will provide for a more direct route for the millions of US citizens living in the south and east of the country, and for New Zealanders heading in the opposite direction.

“We already get thousands of visitors a year from states such as Texas, Florida and New York and this new service should allow us to boost those numbers further,” says Mr Key.

Sustainable workforce solutions were at the centre of discussions between Government Ministers and tourism industry representatives in Queenstown today.

Streamlined immigration rules were announced last month as a short term solution to help employers in Queenstown through this period of high demand.

Temporary changes to immigration rules will further help Queenstown employers recruit much needed staff, Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett and Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse announced today.

A new streamlined visa process means that from now until June 2015 employers in Queenstown will be temporarily exempt from providing evidence of an attempt to recruit within New Zealand, except for roles that Work and Income has identified it may be able to fill.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett will travel to Sydney on 5 February to attend the biannual Tourism Ministers’ Meeting.

The Tourism Ministers’ Meeting brings together Australian federal, state and territorial tourism ministers, as well as New Zealand. 

“It’s an exciting time for New Zealand and Australian tourism, with things truly kicking into gear in less than two weeks with the opening match of the jointly-hosted Cricket World Cup 2015,” says Mrs Bennett.

Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key has announced that further funding is now available for the improvement of New Zealand’s Great Rides.

Applications are now being accepted for the second round of funding available through the Maintaining the Quality of Great Rides Fund - a government initiative to maintain and enhance the Great Rides of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.