Tourism growth charted

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Monday 20th August 2001

Tourism income is expected to increase by more than 70% over the next six years according to a new study.

Tourism Minister, Mark Burton, has released new forecasts on the expected growth in tourism activity, which includes forecasts of international visitor arrivals, international visitor nights and expenditure, the regional impacts of international tourism, and domestic tourism activity.

Mr Burton says among the highlights are that international arrivals are forecast to grow by an average of 6.3% a year to 2.7 million arrivals in 2007. In this period, annual expenditure by international visitors is forecast to increase from $4.7 billion to $8.1 billion.

"These forecasts provide the industry and its related sectors with a very sound basis for planning to meet these robust levels of demand."

The forecasting programme has also been extended to provide analysis of tourism demand and expenditure at the regional level.

"This is particularly important, as it will permit a better understanding of tourism at the level where so many of the key decisions are taken - by businesses, by local government and by regional tourism organisations.

"There is no doubt that tourism will continue to grow in importance and will increase its contribution to the New Zealand economy. These forecasts will play a key role in informing decision-making processes.

The forecasts are the latest outputs of the Tourism Research Council's research programme and were announced at an industry conference in Rotorua.

The Government also announced plans to set up a Ministry of Tourism which will be developed from the former office of Tourism and Sport.

The new Tourism Ministry will be run under the Ministry of Economic Development and the Government says it will play a strong role in representing the interests of tourism within and across government.

It is due to be established at the start of next year.

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