Levin ahead of the pack in visitor numbers

Horowhenua’s visitor market is growing faster than any other district in New Zealand.

Latest Infometrics figures included in Horowhenua’s quarterly economic update show that in the year to September 2017, visitors stayed in Horowhenua for 93,360 nights, an increase of almost 17,000 on the previous year.

Visitor spending was also up by 23 per cent, compared with 6.4 per cent across New Zealand.

‘‘The growth in guest nights and visitor spending is directly related to Horowhenua’s continued economic upturn,’’ said Horowhenua District Council economic development manager Shanon Grainger.

‘‘Most of the visitors are coming for work-related purposes.’’

He said most other indicators of Horowhenua’s economic growth also remained strong. Gross domestic product expanded by 4.5 per cent for the year, compared with 2.5 per cent tor the rest of New Zealand.

Retail sales grew by 13 per cent in the same period, with an extra $9.3 million spent in Horowhenua this year. Traffic flows increased by 4 per cent and 1147 new cars were registered in the district, an increase of 16.3 per cent over last year.

As well as seeing more visitors, more people were moving to Horowhenua to stay.

Statistics New Zealand estimates Horowhenua’s population grew by 1.9 per cent in the year to June 2017, compared with 0.4 per cent average annual growth between 2006 and 2016. That translated to 600 more people living in Horowhenua, boosting its population of 32,500, the fastestgrowing in the Manawatu¯ Whanganui region.

The downside was an increase in unemployment from 6.7 per cent to 7 per cent.

Grainger expected there would be plenty of job opportunities arising over the next year due to businesses moving to Horowhenua.