NZ dollar down, hotel room charges up

New Zealand tourism is having its its best summer yet. Photo / Greg Bowker

The falling New Zealand dollar will boost tourism and could enable hotel operators to increase prices.

Tourism Export Council chief executive Lesley Immink said the declining currency might not bring a greater number of visitors immediately, but it would enable those with United States dollars to spend more.

"We've been able to trade through the most difficult period where the high kiwi was like an extra tax," she said.

"When there's [US dollar] movement going up then that's dollars in the bank.

"It's also an opportunity for operators, particularly in accommodation, to put their prices up a bit.

"Some of them haven't been able to make any money over the past few years and while we're not wanting to encourage gouging there's an opportunity to put [nightly rates] up another $10 to $20." The tourism industry wants to topple dairy as New Zealand's biggest earner.

It made $9.8 billion from overseas visitors last year, and last surpassed dairy in in 2008.

New Zealand tourism is having its its best summer yet with double-digit growth from the United States, the country's third-biggest market, and Tourism Industry Association chief executive Chris Roberts said the lower dollar would cement these gains.

"The tourism industry has battled headwinds from the currency for some time now so it's nice to have a tailwind now," he said.

Figures for the year to the end of November showed US visitors spent $748 million.