Wellington continues to reap the benefits of tourism growth
Paul Foster-Bell
National List MP
24 February 2017 Media Statement
National List MP Paul Foster-Bell was delighted to see Wellington continue to reap the benefits of tourism growth
Paul Foster-Bell, National List MP based in Wellington Central welcomes the growth of tourism spending in Wellington.
“We have seen an increase in spending for the year to January 2017 of 3.0% in Wellington. That takes tourism spending to a total of $2.367 billion in our city,” Foster-Bell said.
“Domestic and international tourism bring welcome employment opportunities and economic prosperity to the area.
“Wellington is becoming a more and more highly desirable location to visit. There are many attractions and activities to discover and enjoy here. They include Te Papa, the Botanic Gardens and a thriving craft beer industry. Wellington has such variety and diversity on offer”.
“Across New Zealand, tourists spent more than $26 billion in the year to January 2017,” Foster-Bell says.
Domestic and international tourism creates immense value for working New Zealanders, with tourism employing over 180,000 people in 2016.
“Communities around New Zealand continue to benefit from increasing tourism and higher spending. This is great news for Wellington and New Zealanders as a whole.
“As international visitor spending is booming, we must also invest to sustain and support this. The Government is investing in infrastructure across the board to support visitors, including $1.439 Billion towards improving Wellington roads from 2015-2018.
“Increasing numbers of tourists of so many different nationalities is proof that New Zealand offers a world class experience for its visitors, from near and far” Foster-Bell says.
ENDS