Lions effect shows up in visitor spending

Thursday, 31 August 2017

Auckland was the biggest beneficiary of the Lions tour earlier this year.

Spending by UK tourists jumped during the Lions rugby tour especially in Auckland but was far less noticeable in Canterbury.

The effect of the Lion's tour showed up when comparing July 2016, with July 2017.

A decline in Chinese visitor spending was made up by the jump in UK visitors.

Based on the July comparisons, spending by UK citizens in Auckland surged 136 per cent to $30.9 million, Otago 84 per cent $13m, Wellington up 214 per cent to $10.9m, and Christchurch up 56 per cent to $6.8m.

Aside from the blip upwards during the Lions tour, the top three fastest international markets showing double digit growth over the year were the US, Germany and Canada, while Chinese visitor spending was down 6 per cent.

* Almost five million international visitors forecast by 2023

* Mixed reaction to $178m in extra tourism and DOC funding**

Tourists opened their wallets mostly on shopping, with food and beverage close behind, followed by accommodation, tourism products, automotive, alcohol, and cultural and gambling services.

Generally, domestic tourists far outstrip spending by overseas visitors several times, with the next big spenders being Australians, Chinese, Americans and Britons in that order.

Overall annual tourist spending (including domestic tourists) is always highest in Auckland ($7.8 billion for the year ending July), followed by Queenstown area ($2.6b), and Christchurch ($2.2b).

Regions which enjoyed the fastest growth in tourism spending over the year included the West Coast, which increased 15 per cent to $540m, followed by Tasman (up 13 per cent to $312m) and Southland (up 10 per cent to $622m).

The total amount spend by domestic and overseas tourists for the year ending July 2017 was about $30b compared with $20.1b in 2009.

Some areas, especially Otago and Canterbury saw mid-year rises from the ski season.