Sports events in New Zealand lift hospitality sales

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-14 16:57:52|Editor: Liangyu
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WELLINGTON, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Hospitality sales were boosted with an influx of sports fans and competitors for two major events held in New Zealand, leading to a record increase for the food and beverage services industry in the June 2017 quarter, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Monday.

Retail sales volumes in the food and beverage services industry increased 4.2 percent in the quarter, said a Stats NZ release. This sector includes cafes, restaurants, bars, takeaways, and catering services.

"With more than 28,000 people attending the World Masters Games in late April, and the surge of 23,000 visitors from the UK and Ireland, many arriving for the Lions rugby series starting in June, there was an expected lift for food and drink providers," said business indicators senior manager Daria Kwon.

When the effects of price changes are included, the food and beverage industry also recorded the largest increase in the values series, up 4.6 percent, or 117 million NZ dollars (85.5 million U.S. dollars), which followed a strong 4.5 percent increase in the March quarter, Kwon said.

Accommodation sales also showed the strongest increase in three years, up 6.1 percent, which was reflected by a 14 percent rise in international guest nights in the June Accommodation Survey, Kwon said.

Total retail sales volume rose 2 percent in the June 2017 quarter, which followed a 1.6 percent rise in the March quarter, he said.

The value of total retail sales rose 1.6 percent, or 351 million NZ dollars (256.5 million U.S. dollars), for the June 2017 quarter, which followed the record dollar value increase of 2.5 percent rise in the March quarter.

In the June 2017 quarter, the value of total retail sales was 21.3 billion NZ dollars (15.6 billion U.S. dollars), up 6.7 percent from the June 2016 quarter.

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