Our tourism sector's keeping its eye on the prize as the New Year begins

It ended 2024 with international visitor spending up 30-percent.

That's despite overseas tourist numbers remaining below pre-Covid figures, sitting at 85-percent.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive, Rene de Monchy says focus will continue on its four-year strategy, to 2028.

He wants to grow the sector by five-billion dollars, with 70-percent to come from increasing the traditional 'off-peak' seasons.