FRIENDLY: A dolphin display in the Bay of Islands astern of the Fullers Great Sights tourist vessel. PHOTO/JOHN STONE
The latest accommodation figures show tourism is booming in Northland, with Whangarei leading the way.
According to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's commercial accommodation monitor, Northland notched up the third highest growth rate in the country in November (the most recent figures available) with an extra 17,000 guest
nights compared to November 2013.
Only Queenstown and Auckland saw a bigger percentage increase in November.
In the year ending November 2014, overnight stays in Northland grew by 128,000 or 8.3 per cent on the previous year.
Whangarei led the charge in what is being seen as a sign of the improving regional economy and growth in business travel.
