New Zealand posted tourism spending growth by international visitors of nearly 10% last year to $16.2 billion, according to the 2018 Tourism satellite account.
Arrivals were up 7.8% over the same period, thanks to additional capacity in airline seats and cruise traffic, said national accounts senior manager Susan Hollows.
Domestic tourism spend was also strong for the year ending March 2018.
"The boost in domestic tourist spending was underpinned by strong increases across the accommodation, hospitality, passenger transport, and retail sectors," Hollows said.
Tourism directly contributed $15.9 billion to GDP, the government said.
The positive numbers were released as New Zealand tourism is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern spoke of the county’s ‘overwhelming sense of hurt and shame’ after the recent murder of British backpacker Grace Millane.
"Your daughter should have been safe here, and she wasn’t, and I’m sorry for that," the PM said.
There are fears the tourism industry could see a blip, albeit tempoaray as a result of the negative media attention.
Ms Millane was on her first solo trip.
Her body was discovered near Auckland days after being reported missing.
The murder suspect, who has not been publically identified, made his first court appearance this week.
