The latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates released by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment today show that tourism spend for Bay of Plenty is estimated to be $1.6 billion for the year to August 2016, up seven per cent compared with the year to August 2015.

Domestic tourists are spending more money in the Bay. Photo: Supplied.

Of this tourism spend in the year to August 2016, international visitors spending increased five percent compared with the year to August 2015 to $495 million, but that spending by domestic tourists increased seven per cent to $1.1 billion in that period, says MBIE Manager of Sector Trends Peter Ellis.

'When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Bay of Plenty for the month of August 2016 is up three per cent compared with the month of August 2015,” says Peter.

MBIE developed the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates in consultation with tourism industry representatives to create a better measurement of the value of tourism in the regions.

'Tourism spend information for the regions helps inform investment and planning in the tourism industry by providing further insight into where both domestic and international tourists are spending their money,” says Peter.

The Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates measure the expenditure of international and domestic visitors in regions in New Zealand. Data users will be able to filter the information to get the data they need, including breaking down into key areas within regions, country of origin, tourism product grouping such as accommodation, passenger transport and retail sales, and by year. The data is based on administrative transaction data.

The full statistics from the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates are on the MBIE website.

Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett says tourism spending in the regions continues to rise in the year to August 2016 on the back of record visitor numbers.

The fastest-growing region was Nelson, which increased 11.7 per cent over the year to $304 million, followed by Otago up 9.6 per cent to $3.2 billion, and Auckland up 6.9 per cent to $6.7 billion.

'Tourism spending continues to rise across the country, reflecting the Government's commitment to supporting tourism growth in the regions,” says Paula.

'Applications are open now for the Tourism Growth Partnership's new regional stream, which will see $4 million in funding for tourism projects in the regions.

'This is a core part of our wider tourism strategy to support the regions to benefit from increasing visitor numbers.”

Applications to the Tourism Growth Partnership close on 12 October. View the full statistics from the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates here.

Domestic tourists spent a billion dollars in the Bay of Plenty.Photo: Supplied.