WELLINGTON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's tourism sector contributed a record 46.6 billion NZ dollars (27.69 billion U.S. dollars) to the economy in the year to March 2025, up 3.3 percent from the previous year, Stats NZ reported Tuesday.
Overseas visitor expenditure climbed 7 percent to 18.1 billion NZ dollars (10.75 U.S. dollars) during the period, as tourist arrivals jumped 4.3 percent to over 3.32 million, said the statistics department.
"Tourism contributes 7.7 percent of GDP, and continues to be our second highest export," Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston was quoted as saying.
Tourism now supports 327,888 jobs, or about one in nine of New Zealand's workers, spanning accommodation, food and beverage and transport services, according to Stats NZ's tourism satellite account, which provides an overview of tourism's role in the New Zealand economy in terms of expenditure and employment.
"Increased visitor spending flows directly into our regions, supports local jobs, and creates opportunities for communities and businesses up and down the country," Upston said. ■