Why tourism matters to the Waikato
Visitors spent $884 million in our four districts for the year ended June 2026, money that flows to local businesses, supports jobs and helps sustain the amenities residents use too. In the year to June 2026, domestic visitors spent $710 million across the HWT region, while international visitors spent $174 million, 11% more than the previous year, according to MBIE's Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates.
How much do visitors spend in each district?
District, Visitor spend, year to June 2026, Change on previous year
Hamilton City, $476 million, -4%
Waikato District, $167 million, +2%
Waipā District, $125 million, +9%
Matamata-Piako District, $116 million, +6%
Source: MBIE Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates, year ending June 2026.
How does the Waikato compare nationally?
The Waikato secures/achieves 4.6% market share of visitor expenditure across the country. In June 2026, domestic visitor spend in the region was the fourth highest in the country (MBIE MRTE).
Nationally, tourism is New Zealand's second-largest export earner and supports one in nine jobs, according to the Government's Tourism Policy Statement (June 2026). Domestic visitors matter most for regions like ours: they accounted for 80% of total tourism expenditure in the year ended June 2026, providing steady demand that is less exposed to international shocks.
How many jobs does tourism support?
More than 13,450 people are directly employed in tourism in the Waikato.
What does tourism mean for communities?
The benefits go beyond spending. The Destination Management Plan was developed with communities, iwi, industry and stakeholders, and it frames tourism around four wellbeings:
Economic: quality, secure employment for all ages and community wealth within the region
Social: opportunities for local communities to benefit from and connect with visitors
Cultural: sharing the region's stories in ways communities and iwi support
Environmental: a visitor economy that respects and gives back to the region's natural assets.
The Plan's goal is that the visitor economy positively contributes to thriving Waikato communities: people, culture and the environment.
What difference do events make?
Events bring new visitors into the region and fill accommodation outside peak periods. The Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund, a $3.75 million government investment that HWT led for the Waikato, Rotorua, Ruapehu and Taupō, supported events that generated a reported $220 million in economic impact, with a total audience of 532,468 including 249,909 out-of-region visitors (as reported in July 2025). The events themselves were delivered by their organisers.
Read the Destination Management Plan snapshot