Delivering events of all types stimulates high value travel to places and at times of the year when demand can be low. In this, events are the most powerful lever that can be used to stimulate off-peak travel and, as such, they play an important role nationally and regionally for shifting demand patterns and boosting economic activity. 

For this reason, the Government works to attract major events through its Major Events Fund and many regions include events as an important way to stimulate visitation in their Destination Management Plans. 

The business events sector has been significantly boosted in recent years with the opening of two new purpose-built conference centers (in Christchurch and Wellington) and with the New Zealand International Conference Centre in Auckland due to open in 2025. These facilities are, and will, generate considerable high value tourism activity. 

TIA welcomes funding from the Tourism Industry Data Partnership Fund to support Business Events Industry Aotearoa to build a data system for measuring and reporting the contribution of businesses events, including economic, employment and supply-chain outcomes.