Our take on the latest Tourism data (Fri 12 Apr 2019)
Chinese arrivals 11% lower than the first two months of 2018
Total tourist arrivals down 1.2% from February 2018
Seasonally adjusted arrivals down 4.8% in the last three months
The key numbers...
- Although concerns over the NZ-China relationship have died down somewhat, it remains to be seen how much recovery there might be in Chinese tourist numbers later this year. February and early March represented the height of media reporting on concerns about the relationship.
- Even if concerns about the NZ-China relationship do not have a lasting effect on tourism activity, future growth in Chinese visitor numbers is likely to be weaker than in previous years as the country’s GDP and spending growth slow.
- A softer economic outlook for the US, Europe, and the UK is also likely to limit growth in tourism activity over the next two years.
- It is estimated that the government’s international visitor levy, which will be in place from October, will knock about 0.5% off tourist arrival numbers compared with a business-as-usual scenario.
Tourist arrivals by country
Year-end annual % changes
...and our reaction
- Total tourist arrivals in February were down 1.2%pa from a year earlier.
- An 11%pa drop in Chinese tourist arrivals over January and February was the worst result over the Chinese New Year period since 2004.
- Arrivals from Malaysia over the same period were down 6.4%, while a 4.2%pa drop in UK tourist numbers also contributed to February’s weak result.
- Growth in arrivals from Taiwan and South Korea mitigated the other declines, with the 21% lift in Korean tourists a welcome turnaround from the double-digit declines during the latter part of 2018.
Latest updates
Premium
Tourism data
Visitor arrivals slow and recovery stalls
Fri 14 Aug 2026
Monthly
0.1% Tourism arrivals In June 2026 from May 2026 (seasonally adjusted)
8.1%pa Tourism arrivals in June 2026
95% Tourism arrivals Of pre-pandemic levelsPremium
Tourism data
Visitor arrivals slip but broader recovery continues
Tue 14 Jul 2026
Monthly
1.8% Tourism arrivals In May 2026 from Apr 2026 (seasonally adjusted)6.7%pa Tourism arrivals in May 202627%pa Chinese visitor arrivals in May 2026Tourism data
Visitor arrivals up 8.0%pa, driven by China
Fri 12 Jun 2026
Monthly
2.3% Tourism arrivals In Apr 2026 from Mar 2026 (seasonally adjusted)52%pa Chinese visitor arrivals in April 2026
Tourism arrivals at 94% of pre-pandemic levels in year to Apr 2026Tourism data
Tourism recovery continues despite Iran War
Thu 14 May 2026
Monthly
11%pa Tourism arrivals over the three months to Mar 202620%pa Chinese visitor arrivals in March 2026Tourism arrivals at 94% of pre-pandemic levels in year to Mar 2026