Editorial: To our troupers of tourism

Thanks to Auckland for $85 million of that total, partly reflecting concerted efforts by Destination Rotorua and the local tourism industry to target the domestic market. Photo / Andrew Warner

ALL of you working in Rotorua's tourism and hospitality industry deserve a big pat on the back.

As we report today, new figures show visitor expenditure in Rotorua for the year to March 2015 was $593 million, an $85 million or 17 per cent increase over the previous year.

That's a lot of money flowing into the region.

It's not news that tourism is integral to Rotorua's economy, it's what the city is known for. But for those outside the industry, it's easy to underestimate just how integral it really is.

That half a billion dollars didn't just go to tour companies, attractions, hotels or restaurants.

Some filtered through into many other sectors, which in turn is keeping local businesses going, creating jobs and encouraging further growth.

We have our Auckland friends to thank for $85 million of that total, partly reflecting concerted efforts by Destination Rotorua and the local tourism industry to target the domestic market, as well as the fact Rotorua has developed a reputation as a cool, fun and friendly place to visit. Just ask your family and friends from other parts of the country.

And that's down to all of you who make visitors welcome and who create an experience people go home and tell their friends about.

So, a pat on the back to all of you who every day help make our city 'New Zealand's coolest hot spot'.

-While other Aussie kids are marking the end of their school days by partying on the beaches of Surfers Paradise, 40 teenagers from across the Tasman will this weekend touch down in Rotorua with a very different mission in mind.

It's become an annual tradition for the yLead organisation to come to Rotorua and help out with the Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal for the Salvation Army Foodbank. The group will conduct a can drive around Ngongotaha on Monday night, so if you live out that way, listen out for their air horn (and those Aussie twangs!) and get your cans ready.

They've come 4000km or so to help our community, the least they deserve is our thanks, support and spare cans!