The Warbirds Over W\u0101naka airshow contributed more than $57 million to the regional economy this year \u2014 up 40% on 2024 \u2014 new data shows.<\/p>\n
The results were contained in an Economic Impact Assessment Report by Christchurch consultants The Curiosity Company, Warbirds Over W\u0101naka general manager Ed Taylor said in a statement yesterday.<\/p>\n
Mr Taylor said this year\u2019s event was hit with \u2018\u2018major curve balls\u2019\u2019 in the week before the show after rising fuel costs led to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Australia and Singapore pulling their aircraft out.<\/p>\n
The highly anticipated United States F-22 Raptor fighter jets were also cancelled.<\/p>\n
Skyrocketing fuel prices also affected a lot of visitors \u2014 and the weather forecast was \u2018\u2018less than ideal\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018While attendance numbers were slightly down on 2024\u2019s airshow, people still came and loved it. We had a lot of positive feedback,\u2019\u2019 Mr Taylor said.<\/p>\n
He said he believed the economic impact increased due to the number of people who came to the airshow from outside the region.<\/p>\n
This year the event\u2019s marketing had specifically targeted Auckland, which resulted in a jump in the number of Aucklanders attending the airshow, up 2% to 14% of total visitors.<\/p>\n
International visitors remained strong at 8% of the total audience, spending a total of $8.6m this year.<\/p>\n
The numbers also showed the major positive effect the airshow had for local businesses, with total bed nights in the region increasing by just over a thousand to 130,517.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018At the same time the average length of stay was an impressive 4.6 nights,\u2019\u2019 the statement said.<\/p>\n
Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said the economic impact was \u2018\u2018outstanding\u2019\u2019 and the assessment showed what an important event Warbirds was for W\u0101naka.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Warbirds has been producing internationally acclaimed airshows for almost four decades, contributing a remarkable $350m-plus to the local economy over that time.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018There\u2019s nothing else quite like it and all indications are the 40th anniversary show in 2028 will be one for the ages,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The Warbirds Over W\u0101naka International Airshow is held every two years over the Easter long weekend.<\/p>\n