Tourism spend up

TOURISTS visiting Otago spent $3.6 billion in the year to June, new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment statistics show.

The figure was up 9% on June 2016.

Ministry sector trends manager Mark Gordon said $2.1 billion was spent by international visitors.

‘‘When it comes to the monthly expenditure, tourism spend in Otago for the month of June 2017 is up 15% compared with the month of June 2016.’’

The New Zealand-Lions series pushed spending by the United Kingdom market in Otago up 74% to

$11 million, he said.