Summary:
June sees spending declines yet tourism employment grows
June was a challenging month for the West Coast's tourism sector. Domestic card spend declined, offsetting a positive year-end figure. International card spend dropped significantly, bucking the trend of growth seen in most neighbouring RTOs. Commercial accommodation saw a significant slump in guest nights and occupancy, driven by a sharp decrease in guest arrivals. Despite these negative trends, tourism-related employment for the month grew.
Domestic spend hints at day-trip growth; international follows nights
A decrease in total domestic card spend (-5% YoY) when compared with domestic guest night decline of -20% YoY suggested that either relative average spend had increased, or the prevalence of growing day trips. International card spend declined -19% YoY against a similar result for international guest nights of -18% YoY.
Domestic visitors prefer self-catering as dining dips
In June, domestic card spend on food and beverage retail grew +6% YoY, while spending on serving declined -4% YoY—reinforcing the year-round preference for domestic visitors to self-cater over dining out. For international spend, food and beverage serving remained the leading product category at 22% of total spend (down -15% YoY), just ahead of food and beverage retail at 21% (down -4% YoY).
Domestic spend shrinks, West Coast locals boost spending
Domestic spend fell -5% YoY in June, offsetting the year-end growth figure of +1% YoY. This was similar to Marlborough (-4% YoY) but better than Nelson Tasman (-14% YoY). While Cantabrians spent -9% YoY less in June 2025, local West Coast residents increased their spend +7% YoY, alongside growth from Otago (+17% YoY) and Tasman (+14% YoY) as key domestic markets.
International spend dips, highlighting West Coast's weaker performance
International spending dropped -19% YoY, in contrast to gains in neighbouring Marlborough (+2% YoY) and Nelson Tasman (+11% YoY), and second only to Hurunui’s -28% YoY decline. All major international markets contributing to total spend contracted—US (-5% YoY), Australia (-31% YoY), rest of Europe (-7% YoY), and UK (-45% YoY)—except for the rest of Asia excluding China, Japan, and Korea, which remained stable (0% YoY). Across most RTOs in June, the US and Rest of Asia markets posted notable growth, making the West Coast’s performance stand out as weaker.
Food and drink up in Westland, Buller; Grey districts down
Domestic spending on food and beverage serving grew in all TAs except Grey District (-4% YoY), with Westland District up +4% YoY and Buller District up +2% YoY. A similar pattern emerged for international spending, with Grey District down -2% YoY, Westland District up +3% YoY, and Buller District up +8% YoY.
Westland District sees biggest domestic uplift but largest international decline
Domestic card spend results were mixed: Westland District grew +4% YoY, Grey District was stable (0% YoY), and Buller District declined -1% YoY. Westland reported the highest domestic growth but also the steepest international decline (-7% YoY), compared with Grey District (-3% YoY) and Buller District (0% YoY).
Commercial accommodation sees fewer arrivals but longer stays
Commercial accommodation declined overall, with guest nights down -11% YoY and occupancy down -3%pt. Available stay units rose +3% YoY while guest arrivals fell -13% YoY, suggesting similar numbers of units were occupied but by fewer guests. Average stay length increased slightly (+2% YoY). Compared with Nelson Tasman (-20% YoY domestic and -18% YoY international guest nights), the West Coast performed better at -16% YoY domestic and -3% YoY international.
Longer stays offset arrivals drop, though lodges buck the trend
Average stay length increased across most accommodation types: lodges and boutique accommodation (+22% YoY), large motels and apartments (20+ units) (+22% YoY), smaller motels and apartments (6–20 units) (+5% YoY), and both hotels and backpackers (+1% YoY each). Holiday parks and campgrounds were unchanged (0% YoY). Guest arrivals fell for most categories, offsetting the longer stays, except in lodges and boutique accommodation, where arrivals surged +86% YoY.
Westland sees smallest drop thanks to longer average stays
Westland District posted the smallest decline in guest nights (-8% YoY), compared with Buller (-16% YoY) and Grey District (-12% YoY). This was supported by growth in average stay length in Westland (+8% YoY) versus declines in Buller (-2% YoY) and Grey (-4% YoY).
Tourism employment up overall, driven by hospitality gains
Tourism-related employment rose +2% YoY in June, with growth across all employment industries. The two largest sectors—food and beverage and accommodation—grew +1% YoY and +2% YoY respectively. Nelson Tasman recorded the same overall growth (+2% YoY), while Queenstown posted +1% YoY.
Buller jobs remain steady, with gains in Grey, Westland districts
Tourism-related employment was stable in Buller District (0% YoY), while Grey District grew +5% YoY and Westland District increased +1% YoY.