NZ tourism breaks the three million mark

NZ tourism breaks the three million mark

A record three million visitors came to New Zealand in the past year and spent nearly $9 billion.

Prime Minister John Key, who’s also tourism minister, says it’s a huge milestone.

“Already, tourism is our second-largest export earner and the industry continues to go from strength to strength,” he said on Friday.

“Today we have more people coming to New Zealand than ever, spending more and staying for longer, helping boost our economy and creating more jobs.”

The statistics show there were 3,002,982 visitors in the year ending July 2015, seven per cent more than the previous 12 months.

They spent $8.7b, up 28 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Tourism is directly responsible for 94,100 jobs within the industry and supports a further 72,700.

Mr Key says he’s confident the lower New Zealand dollar and the country’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination mean the best times are still to come.

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