Tania Tapsell: Rotorua Mayor on the economic impact of the visa waiver trial for Chinese and Pacific visitors

Tourists are spending up large as a visa waiver trial yields results.   Chinese and Pacific travellers have injected around $215 million into the economy over the last six months after visa changes eased access to New Zealand.  These tourists can skip applying for a visitor visa if they already hold an Australian one, as part of a 12-month trial launched in November.  Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Mike Hosking it's bringing huge benefits and should be made permanent.  She says Chinese tourists spend around $6,000 each on average when they visit.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.