Figures show tourism impact on economy

Press, 10 February 1989, Page 2

Figures show tourism impact on economy

Wellington reporter Every 34 international visitors created one direct job and 0.69 indirect jobs, according to the Tourist and Publicity Department.. . Figures analysing the economic impact of tourism were released by the Minister of Tourism, Mr Hunt. It took 728 person-nights by international visitors to create these jobs, compared with 1731 person-nights spent by New Zealanders. For the first time last year total estimated employment created by international travellers exceeded that created by domestic travellers. In the year to March, 1988, tourism had contributed $2300 million, or 3.9 per

cent of gross domestic product. Tourism now represented 60.5 per cent of exports by all the services industries, having risen from 35.5 per cent in 1984, and accounted for 13.8 per cent of total exports. Tourism’s total contribution to the economy in 1987-88 was more than $4500 million — comprising gross domestic travel expenditure, international visitor expenditure, and airfare receipts. Mr Hunt said tourism had strong benefits for employment and regional development. About 85,000 jobs were attributed directly or indirectly to tourism in 198788, representing 5.5 per cent of all employed labour, he said.