PM's Column - New Zealand’s tourism industry continues to boom 뉴질랜드 관광…

Key figures released last week show New Zealand’s tourism sector is continuing to boom in almost every part of the country. That’s fantastic news and a credit to the sector.Latest statistics show national guest nights were 6.2 per cent higher last year than in the year to December 2014, and it was the 21st consecutive monthly increase.

This increase has come from both domestic and international travellers. While international visitor growth is important, it’s great to see more New Zealanders are getting around and seeing what’s on offer in our own backyard.

With more people coming, staying longer, and spending more money in New Zealand, it’s now having a flow-on positive effect into other areas of the wider economy. This is helping to grow the economy as well as delivering more jobs and higher wages for Kiwis.

As Tourism Minister, it’s particularly pleasing to see 11 out of 12 regional areas had more guest nights. Tourism is a big contributor to our regional economies, with over half of international tourism expenditure being spent outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

In towns and cities across New Zealand, the local communities I visit tell me about the positive impact tourism growth is having in their region in creating new jobs and business growth. Our well-deserved reputation as a premiere destination is supported by the National-led Government’s commitment to growing the tourism sector.

Since 2008, we’ve invested over $700 million in tourism and tourism promotion, an unprecedented amount. 

Tourism is now a big part New Zealand’s economy, directly contributing $10.6 billion or almost 5 per cent to GDP and indirectly contributes another $7.9 billion or 3.6 per cent while also being a major employer of New Zealanders.

Around 175,000 more jobs have been created over the past three years under the National-led Government and a further 195,000 people are forecast to be in work by mid-2020. The latest data shows our unemployment rate has fallen to 5.3 per cent – the lowest since March 2009.

The average annual wage is now over $57,000 – an increase of $10,000 since National first came into office in 2008. Wages are forecasted to continue growing faster than inflation, which will help Kiwi households to get ahead.

The National-led Government’s focus on growing and diversifying our economy is flowing through to more jobs and higher wages for New Zealanders.