Media Release
Daylight saving decision a boost for tourism

30 April 2007
The Tourism Industry Association represents 2000 businesses and organisations within the tourism industry.

Members include airlines, airport companies, and regional tourism organisations, rental car, coach and taxi companies, inbound tour operators, accommodation providers, tourism attractions, researchers, training organisations and tourism services providers.

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export earner – accounting for 18.7% of this country’s export earnings.

The Tourism Industry Association organises the New Zealand Tourism Industry Conference, TRENZ, PURE LUXURY New Zealand and the New Zealand Tourism Industry Awards.

Go to www.tianz.org.nz Today’s decision on daylight saving will extend New Zealand’s peak tourism season and boost visitor spending, Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

“The weather in late summer is usually warm and settled. But to many people, the end of daylight saving means the end of summer,” Ms Luhrs says.

“Extending daylight saving will encourage visitors to keep enjoying New Zealand’s fantastic outdoor attractions and activities for longer into the evenings. The more daylight time they have, the better.”

Earlier surveys of TIA Members have indicated the majority are in favour of extending daylight saving.

“This will bring New Zealand more into line with comparable international destinations like Australia, Britain and western Europe. It also has the advantage of decreasing New Zealand’s energy use by encouraging people to make the most of the daylight hours in the evenings.”
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Key statistics about tourism:

 Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
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 New Zealand tourism arrivals have doubled in size since 1994 to 2.4 million
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 Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years
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 Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $8.1 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2005. That is 18.7% of exports
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 Domestic tourism contributes $9.4 billion to the economy each year
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 Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.
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 Tourism represents 9% of gross domestic product and generates nearly $526 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

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