Lions fans dished out $42m

Sales figures for June and July released by Visa International show visiting Lions fans pumped millions of dollars into the New Zealand economy.

UK and Irish-based Visa card holders spent $42.2 million during the two-month period, more than double the amount spent by cardholders during the same period last year.

An estimated 29,000 Lions fans came to New Zealand, with hotels, motels and resorts topping the spending table with $5,967,931, followed by travel agencies, vehicle rental, restaurants, tourist attractions and Air New Zealand.

The figures backed up comments last week from casino and hotel operator SkyCity, which said fans spent more than $400 each a night, helping make its new Grand Hotel the highest revenue producing Auckland hotel from July 7-9.

Iain Jamieson, Visa country manager for New Zealand, said the spending spree showed Lions fans had a good time in spite of the on-field results.

"New Zealand and all New Zealanders can also take a bow about the way they welcomed and entertained the visitors," he said.

"That certainly encouraged all the Lions supporters to see, and do, as much as they could ... "

Jamieson said such a warm attitude would bring economic benefits beyond the final whistle "that will reap rewards in tourism for years to come".

* Spending spree on Visa 

Hotels, motels, resorts: $5,967,931
Travel agencies: $4,927,429
Vehicle rental: $2,574,812
Restaurants: $2,245,621
Tourist attractions: $1,588,492
Air New Zealand: $1,446,342