Overview
Tourism plays a significant role in the city's economy, contributing approximately NZ$1.3 billion annually and accounting for 9% of total FTE employment. The city consistently ranks as New Zealanders' favorite destination in the quarterly FlyBuys Colmar Brunton Mood of the Traveller survey. Additionally, it was ranked fourth in Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2011's Top 10 Cities to Visit.
New Zealanders make up the largest visitor market, with 3.6 million visits each year, spending an average of NZ$2.4 million per day. There are also approximately 540,000 international visitors annually, who spend 3.7 million nights and NZ$436 million. The largest international visitor market is Australia, with over 210,000 visitors spending approximately NZ$334 million each year.
The construction of the Te Papa museum has been credited with transforming Wellington into a tourist destination. Wellington is marketed as the 'coolest little capital in the world' by Positively Wellington Tourism, a regional tourism organization established by Wellington City Council in 1997.
The organization receives council funding through the Downtown Levy commercial rate. Over the past decade, the city has experienced a growth of over 60% in commercial guest nights. It has been promoted through various campaigns and taglines, including the iconic Absolutely Positively Wellington advertisements. The long-term domestic marketing strategy was a finalist in the 2011 CAANZ Media Awards.
Wellington offers a range of popular tourist attractions, including Wellington Museum, Wellington Zoo, Zealandia, and Wellington Cable Car. The city is also witnessing a significant increase in cruise tourism, with 125,000 passengers and crew visits on 60 liners during the 2010/11 season. The 2011/12 season is expected to have 80 vessels booked for visits, injecting more than NZ$31 million into the local economy.
Cheap Hotels in Wellington, New Zealand