More than double the number of representatives from Northland's tourism industry are at New Zealand's largest annual Tourism Industry (TRENZ) conference in Rotorua.
Five tourism businesses and Northland Inc attended last year's conference, with 13 attending this year.
The conference has attracted about 300 New Zealand tourism exhibitors who will target an audience of 356 international travel and tourism buyers.
Figures show an increase of 31 per cent in visitor spending to $9.7 billion in the year to December 2015 for New Zealand; and $661 million for year to March 2015 for Northland, which indicates a bright future, says Northland Inc's general manager, regional promotions and tourism, Paul Davis.
"As a destination Northland is looking at expanding its tourism footprint right across the region with the advent of developments like Te Kngahu - the new museum of Waitangi; the Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Mori Art (HAC) Gallery in Whangarei, and most recently the opening of the Tai Tokerau Queenstown Resort College tourism training facility in Paihia."
