Tourism dollars highlighted

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Thursday 26th April 2001

New tourism figures show the industry is worth around $11.5 billion to New Zealand's economy and contributes more than 9% of GDP.

Statistics New Zealand has released details of the country's Tourism Satellite Account in 1997, the most recent year for which complete data is available to construct such an account.

Figures show the industry employs 86,000 fulltime equivalent people and 63,000 indirectly employed supporting tourism.

They also show tourists paid $0.9 billion in GST on purchases.

Tourism Minister, Mark Burton, says the new figures confirm the immense contribution of the industry to the country's economic well being.

"We are now able to accurately determine the size and contribution of the tourism sector to the New Zealand economy.

"The figures released today reflect a large and vibrant industry that is generating real benefits for New Zealanders."

The chair of the Tourism Research Council New Zealand, Sean Murray, says the results are outstanding.

"Tourism expenditure of $11.5 billion amounts to $32 million spent each and every day by tourists in New Zealand, across the length and breadth of our country.

"The reach of these benefits are tremendous as best illustrated by the large number of jobs generated by tourism - 149,000, or one job in ten."

The latest figures are also likely to be conservative as they are four years old and in that time visitor arrival have risen from 1.55 million to 1.85 million a year.

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