The tourism sector in New Zealand has seen a significant increase in the number of tourists over the past year, with close to one million more visitors arriving compared to the previous year. However, despite this surge, the number of tourists is still running at 17 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
One of the key drivers of this growth has been the rise in arrivals from China, with a 144 per cent increase in the past 12 months. This surge has helped boost the overall number of visitor arrivals to 3.18 million in the year to March, up by 984,000 from the previous year.
While the pandemic initially caused borders to shut and a shift towards domestic tourism, the gradual reopening has led to a steady recovery in international arrivals. The United States also saw a significant increase in arrivals, with a 149,000 rise to 376,000 visitors.
Australia remains the largest market for New Zealand tourism, with 1.29 million arrivals in the past year. India, South Korea, and Japan also saw notable increases in visitor numbers.
Kiwibank is optimistic about the future of the tourism sector, especially if the Chinese market continues to recover. The bank’s economist, Mary Jo Vergara, believes that the international tourist market could fully recover this year, with the return of Chinese visitors playing a crucial role in the industry’s future success.
Overall, the outlook for New Zealand’s tourism industry is positive, with expectations of a continued recovery in international travel and a return to pre-pandemic levels in the near future.