International business event arrivals are up this year after an eclectic group of visitors came to New Zealand.

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) said numbers were approaching pre-Covid heights.

Major contributors included the Special Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Auckland and the International Sedimentological Congress in Wellington.

The first event was a religious gathering and the second was for sedimentology, the study of sand, silt, clay and sedimentary rocks.

A third major event was the International Cool Climate Wine Summit in Christchurch, a gathering of winemakers, viticulturists, and wine scientists.

Cool climate wine regions include northern Europe, Tasmania and New Zealand.

“Business events are one of the key feeders into supporting demand for aviation into New Zealand,” said Cath O’Brien, Board of Airline Representatives (Barnz) executive director.

She said business events also helped support aviation and tourism during off-peak times.

Many business delegates also stayed in New Zealand for a few more days after the event, O’Brien said.

She said airlines serving New Zealand had capacity to bring business delegates in.

“When capacity gets a bit squeezed, that’s when airlines will add more services. The way to growth is more growth.”

“Business events are one of New Zealand’s most valuable visitor segments,” BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said.

“Delegates travelling here bring global expertise, networks and knowledge into New Zealand, and support our venues, hotels, hospitality, transport and regional economies.”

BEIA said arrivals in the first quarter were up more than 50% year-on-year to more than 16,500.

The group estimated those visitors made a $54.1 million contribution to the New Zealand economy.

Recent business events included tourism industry gathering Trenz at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland.

Upcoming events at the same centre include the Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Associations Conference in July.

That is expected to have 750 attendees and 2250 visitor days.

The following month, the International Coral Reef Symposium at the same venue is expected to host 2000 attendees and generate 12,000 visitor days.

BEIA said about 282,000 delegates attended multi-day conferences in New Zealand last year.

That included 62,500 host region residents, 156,600 domestic visitors, 36,300 Australian visitors, and 26,600 visitors from elsewhere.

John Weekes is a business journalist covering aviation. He previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.