Southland's tourism sector is growing, with funding support from the Government ensuring that the positivity continues.
For the 12 months to June 2025, total regional tourist spend in this province reached $359.7 million, an increase of $2.1 million on the previous year, according to Great South.
Commercial accommodation occupancy in Fiordland averaged 52.8 percent, up 1 percentage point, while Southland recorded 49.9 percent.
But it is events that are increasingly playing an important role in boosting visitor numbers and vibrancy in this province.
In the past year this region has hosted 153 major events of 500-plus people.
The Government is aware of the importance of encouraging more visitors to the regions and promoting tourism growth and business confidence.
We have already supported conservation-related experiences including funding for both the Stewart Island (Rakiura) and Fiordland National Parks.
Five Southland events, including the Burt Munro Challenge and the Invercargill round of the NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series, are also set to receive $93,000 in Government funding in the next 12 months.
This comes on top of $79,000 in Regional Events Promotion funding, which in 2024 supported seven Southern events, including the George Begg Festival.
These events will bring visitors South, boost local accommodation rates, support food and hospitality outlets, encourage retail spending locally and ultimately keep people in jobs.
Added to this, Southland will also benefit from another $10 million boost to regional tourism funding, and $10 million for tourism infrastructure upgrades, announced last month (September) by the Government.
This is about growing tourism in the South, but it’s also about driving jobs and economic growth.
The full regional tourism package will be rolled out over the next two years, with further announcements on events and infrastructure projects expected by the end of 2025.
Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds
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