eTN, Jul 01, 2008

The government credited New Zealand’s reputation for having a pristine environment for the nearly 5 percent rise in tourism revenue for the year through March 2007 reaching a record of more than $15 billion. The tourism sector was responsible for 9.2 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product in the year, according to a government-funded Statistics New Zealand report. The industry supports 9.7 percent of New Zealand’s total work force, the equivalent of 181,000 full-time jobs. Spending by both domestic and international tourists rose 4.7 percent to $15.3 billion in the year that ended March 31, 2007.

>>Full article