Tourists Spend $12.1 Billion in 1999

Tourists Spend $12.1 Billion in 1999

Tourism expenditure in New Zealand was $12.1 billion for the year ended March 1999, according to tourism industry statistics released today by Statistics New Zealand. The release also establishes that in the years ended March 1997 and 1998, tourists spent $11.5 billion and $11.3 billion respectively. The totals include spending by overseas visitors and domestic household, business and government travellers.

Other key tourism industry statistics show that:

In 1999, the tourism industry share of New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP) was $4.4 billion, or 4.6 percent of the total industry contribution to GDP. This can be compared to the value added contribution of farming (5.5 percent), construction (4.5 percent) and communication services (3.5 percent).

When indirect flow-on effects are also included, a further $4.1 billion value added was generated by industries supporting tourism. These flow-on effects occur when suppliers of tourism services, such as transport, accommodation and restaurant meals, purchase goods and services from their suppliers (for example, fuel, electricity, meat and vegetables).

An estimated 86,000 full-time equivalent employees were directly engaged in producing goods and services purchased by tourists in the year ended March 1999. Another 57,000 full-time equivalent persons were indirectly engaged in supporting tourism. Tourists paid $857 million in GST on their purchases in the March 1999 year.

A report, Tourism Satellite Account 1997-1999, was also released today. It provides more detailed analysis of the tourism industry and also includes explanation of the concepts and methodology used. The report is available free from the Statistics New Zealand website: http://www.stats.govt.nz.

The Provisional Tourism Satellite Account 2000-2002 will be published on 31 March 2003. These reports are part of an ongoing programme funded by the Ministry of Tourism to enhance the understanding of the role that tourism plays in New Zealand.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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