West Coast buoyant: Tourism number one

Media release – October 18, 2004

West Coast buoyant: Tourism number one

The tourism industry is the number one employer on the West Coast, and is the major provider of net household income, according to a report commissioned by Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

The industry directly employs almost 2,800 full-time equivalent people, and generates a further 650 full-time equivalent jobs. This accounts for 28 percent of full-time equivalent jobs in the region, said the report, release today.

The report also shows that, on a number of indicators, the West Coast is leading the field.

When compared to Hawke’s Bay, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Manawatu-Wanganui and Wairarapa, the Coast produces more GDP per capita, more GDP per full-time employee, more net household income per full-time employee, and more exports per fulltime employee.

Compared to the New Zealand average, the Coast produces 11 percent more GDP per capita, and 4 percent more GDP per full-time employee.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic chief executive Don Campbell said the report was great news for the Coast.

“Locals have known for some time that the region is booming, but to read in the report that the West Coast leads the field for all the ratio indicators is extremely heartening, particularly the message about Coast productivity.”

The report was commissioned in order to help the Polytechnic develop its Profile - the document that is the basis for its funding agreement with the Tertiary Education Commission - and was prepared by Napier-based consultant Sean Bevin.

It gives an overview of projected demographic, social, economic, labour market and education trends for 2005-2011.

Other findings in the report include:

• Over half of all primary production in the region is exported to other parts of New Zealand or overseas

• Mining accounts for 70 percent of the region’s primary sector exports

• The service sector accounts for 52 percent of regional GDP, but 69 percent of full-time equivalent jobs

Ends

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