New Zealand recorded over *** million international visitor arrivals in the year ended June 2024, marking an increase from the previous year, in which just over *** million oversea visitors traveled into the country. International visitor arrivals to New Zealand hit an all-time low of *** thousand visitor arrivals in 2021 due to COVID-19-related lockdowns and travel restrictions.

In the month of June 2024, there were over ******* international visitor arrivals to New Zealand, marking an increase from the same month of 2023, with around ******* international arrivals. The significant recovery in visitor numbers from March 2022 onwards can be attributed to New Zealand re-opening its borders to travelers after a two-year COVID-19 lockout. International tourism in New Zealand From its picturesque shorelines to its striking mountain ranges, New Zealand has become an appealing destination for international tourists. Auckland, New Zealand’s North Island metropolis, alongside Christchurch, Queenstown, Rotorua, and Wellington, are some of the most popular destinations for international visitors in the country. In 2024, the largest groups of overseas arrivals into the country traveled from Australia, the United States, and China. That year, the number of visitors from China to New Zealand witnessed a large recovery, growing by over ******* arrivals from the year 2023. The leading reasons for visiting New Zealand remain to go on holiday or to visit friends or relatives. Tourism sector recovery in New Zealand From April 2020 to February 2022, New Zealand’s international tourist numbers plummeted, witnessing a short-lived recovery between April and July 2021, with tourism industry owners emphasizing the importance of international travel to New Zealand's tourism sector recovery. In 2023 and 2024, the country’s international tourism sector showed strong signs of recovery, with international visitor numbers leaping from just over ******* in 2022 to over ***** million in 2024. While this is still not quite at the pre-pandemic high witnessed in 2019, it is safe to say that New Zealand’s international travel sector is back on track.

The largest group of international visitors to New Zealand arrived from Australia in the 2024 financial year, with almost *** million Australian arrivals recorded. This accounted for over a ***** of the total number of international arrivals to New Zealand that year. The United States accounted for the second-largest international tourist group entering the country in 2024, followed by China, the United Kingdom, and India. While Australia was the source market with the highest arrival numbers to New Zealand, China witnessed the largest growth in international visitors to the country in 2024 from the previous year. New Zealand’s international visitor economy recovery Over *** million international tourists were recorded in New Zealand in 2024, marking an increase of over ******* from the previous year, and a growth of over ***** million from the low visitor arrival numbers witnessed in 2021. With the number of international arrivals on the recovery, international tourist expenditure has picked up again, coming in at around **** billion New Zealand dollars in the year ended March 2023, with domestic visitor spending continuing its steady upward trajectory since 2014. International visitors to New Zealand recorded the highest spending on accommodation across tourism-related product types in the first quarter of 2024, followed by eating out at restaurants, cafés, and other food establishments. What encourages international tourists to visit New Zealand? The country’s landscapes and scenery was the top deciding factor in visiting New Zealand among international tourists, according to a survey conducted in the first quarter of 2024, followed by going to see friends and relatives. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies were a key incentive for just over ** percent of participants. Among the leading activities undertaken by international visitors when visiting the country, walking, hiking, swimming, and surfing were the most popular, as well as boating-related activities.

Tourist Arrivals in New Zealand decreased to 190593 in May from 267271 in April of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - New Zealand Tourist Arrivals - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data was reported at 3,370,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,039,000.000 Person for 2015. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data is updated yearly, averaging 2,373,000.000 Person from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2016, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,370,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 1,475,000.000 Person in 1998. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

In the year ended June 2024, around *** thousand inbound tourists to New Zealand were aged between 25 and 34 years old, making it the leading age group for international arrivals into the country that year. The second-largest group of international tourists by age were those aged 55 to 64 years old, with over *** thousand people in this age category traveling to New Zealand in financial year 2024.

International Travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering New Zealand.

Key information about New Zealand Visitor Arrivals

• New Zealand Visitor Arrivals recorded 355,360 person in Jan 2025, compared with 456,736 person in the previous month
• New Zealand Visitor Arrivals data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1978 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 513,910 person in Dec 2018 and a record low of 1,705 person in Apr 2020

In the year ended June 2024, the median number of days international tourists stayed in New Zealand was approximately *** days. That year, around *** thousand inbound tourists to New Zealand visited the country for eight to fourteen days.

New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Departures data was reported at 2,611,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,412,000.000 Person for 2015. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Departures data is updated yearly, averaging 1,866,500.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,611,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 920,000.000 Person in 1995. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Number of Departures data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International outbound tourists are the number of departures that people make from their country of usual residence to any other country for any purpose other than a remunerated activity in the country visited. The data on outbound tourists refer to the number of departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips from a country during a given period is counted each time as a new departure.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

The Tourism in New Zealand industry has faced roller-coaster conditions over the past five years as it grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic’ impacts. Border closures and recurring lockdowns contributed to severe, industry-wide plummets in revenue during 2020-21 and 2021-22. This forced the industry’s workforce – particularly casual and seasonal employees – to contract. The New Zealand Government introduced stimulus packages to limit the steep downturn’s impact and lay the groundwork for a strong recovery as pandemic restrictions eased. International border restrictions’ phased relaxation between February and July 2022 catalysed industry recovery. International visitors flooded back, kicking off an explosive growth in tourist expenditure, which aided the industry's rebound. Demand from foreign visitors varied, with a slower return from Chinese tourists owing to extended lockdowns in their home country. Younger Australian tourists’ trending prioritisation of longer European trips also limited tourists from Australia. Industry revenue is anticipated to have fallen by an annualised 2.1% over the five years through 2024-25, to $45.5 billion. This includes an expected climb of 2.8% in 2024-25. New Zealand's tourism industry is poised to surpass pre-pandemic benchmarks over the next five years. An increase in both domestic and international tourists is set to elevate revenue and profitability. Ongoing growth in international tourist numbers – who tend to spend more time and money in New Zealand, on average – will be especially valuable to accommodation and transport providers, fuelling consistently high industry profitability. New Zealand's diverse landscape has made the country a popular destination for overseas visitors over the past decade. The industry will look to re-capture and expand this demand by leveraging the country’s reputation as a leader in sustainable and cultural tourism. The industry will offer immersive and environmentally friendly experiences to capitalise on rising global environmental awareness. Cost pressures due to high inflation are forecast to ease, bolstering long-term profitability. Overall, industry revenue is projected to grow at an annualised 2.5% over the five years through 2029-30, to reach $51.6 billion.

The International Visitor Survey (IVS) measures the expenditure, behaviour and characteristics of international visitors to New Zealand. Data includes expenditure, places visited, activities/attractions, accommodation and transport.

Over *** million international tourists visited New Zealand in the 2024 financial year for various reasons, including for a vacation, to visit friends and relatives, and for business purposes. That year, the leading reason for visiting New Zealand was to go on holiday, with over *** million people visiting for this purpose.

New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Live Performance data was reported at 524,643.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 517,844.000 Unit for 2016. New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Live Performance data is updated yearly, averaging 400,294.000 Unit from Jun 1998 (Median) to 2017, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 524,643.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 308,456.000 Unit in 1999. New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Live Performance data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.Q012: Visitor Arrivals: Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment: By Activities Engaged.

Key information about New Zealand Visitor Arrivals

• New Zealand Visitor Arrivals grew 14.6 % in Jan 2025, compared with an increase of 12.4 % in the previous month
• New Zealand Visitor Arrivals Growth rate data is updated monthly, available from Apr 1979 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 6,303.3 % in Sep 2022 and a record low of -99.4 % in Apr 2020

• In the latest reports, New Zealand Visitor Arrivals recorded 355,360.0 person in the month of Jan 2025
• Tourism Revenue of New Zealand reached 6.8 USD bn in Dec 2024, an increase of 140.2 % change from the previous year

This report analyses the total number of visitor days spent in New Zealand by international travellers. International travellers visit New Zealand for a variety of reasons, such as for holidaying, education, visiting friends and relatives and for business reasons. The data for this report is sourced from Statistics New Zealand (Tatauranga Aotearoa) and is measured in millions of days per financial year.

In 2019, Auckland in New Zealand was visited by 1,829,526 international visitors. Queenstown on the south island was the next most popular destination with just over a million international visitors in that year.

International Travel covers the number and characteristics of overseas visitors and New Zealand resident travellers (short-term movements) entering New Zealand.

New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data was reported at 4.010 USD bn in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.721 USD bn for 2015. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 2.558 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.108 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 1.235 USD bn in 2000. New Zealand NZ: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These may include expenditures by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Walk, Hike, Trek or Tramp data was reported at 2,168,242.000 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,923,445.000 Unit for 2016. New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Walk, Hike, Trek or Tramp data is updated yearly, averaging 1,459,240.000 Unit from Jun 1998 (Median) to 2017, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,168,242.000 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 618,332.000 Unit in 1999. New Zealand Visitor Arrivals: Activities: Walk, Hike, Trek or Tramp data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.Q012: Visitor Arrivals: Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment: By Activities Engaged.