KEY POINTS:
Total combined international and domestic tourism spending in this country increased 3.2 per cent to $18.6 billion in the year to March 2006, new figures show.
Total spending for the year earlier, to March 2005, was put at $18b.
The data released today by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) also puts international tourism expenditure at $8.3b, 19.2 per cent of this country's exports compared with 18.9 per cent in the year to March 2005.
Domestic tourism expenditure topped $10.3b in the March 2006 year, while tourism directly contributed $6.9b, 4.8 per cent, to gross domestic product, SNZ said.
The tourism industry directly employed 108,600 full-time equivalent employees, 5.9 per cent of total employment and an increase of 3.6 per cent from the previous year.
Tourists generated $1.25b in goods and services tax revenue, just slightly up on the year earlier.
Indirect value-added from tourism, where there is no direct relationship between the producer and tourist, was put at $5.9b, from $5.78b the year earlier.
The figures are included in SNZ's tourism satellite account 2006, which aimed to enhance understanding of the role tourism plays in this country.
Existing information in national accounts is rearranged for satellite accounts so an area of particular economic or social importance can be analysed more closely.
Despite the increase in tourism spending, SNZ also recorded a 0.7 per cent fall, to 31.3 million, in guest nights spent in commercial accommodation in the year to March 2006.
- NZPA
