Otago, and particularly Wanaka, are leading the way in a new series of tourism statistics put out by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
The "monthly regional tourism estimates'' track spending by international and domestic tourists.
In the section listing the five New Zealand regions with the greatest percentage growth for the year to April 2016, Otago tops the list with 10% followed by Auckland (9%), Nelson (9%), Wellington (8%) and Waikato (8%).
And of all regional tourism offices, Lake Wanaka had the greatest percentage growth for the year to April 2016, at 20%, followed by Ruapehu (13%), Queenstown (12%), Wellington (9%) and Bay of Plenty (9%).
The bottom five regions were Taranaki (5%), Marlborough (3%), Southland (3%), West Coast (0%) and Gisborne (-2%).
The five regional tourism offices with the lowest percentage growth for the year to April 2016 were Kapiti-Horowhenua (3%), Clutha (1%), Southland (0%), West Coast (0%) and Gisborne (-2%).
The statistics for April showed tourism spending of $1.98billion, with $740million contributed by international visitors and $1.24million by domestic tourists.
Total tourism for April was up 4% on April last year, with international tourism growing by 10% and domestic tourism growing by 1%.
Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore said the new statistics were more accurate than ones available previously.
"It's the most accurate picture we've got of tourism in our region, so having Wanaka sitting there with 20% growth over the year is fantastic.''
He was pleased to see that while tourist spending had increased by 20%, the number of tourists had risen by 16%, suggesting individual tourists were spending more in the town.
The most popular way for tourists to spend money in Otago was on food and beverages.
