Our take on the latest Tourism data (Fri 13 Aug 2021)
47,032 Australian arrivals in June
43,062 total departures of NZ tourists
Tourism bubble short lived
The key numbers...
- The second month of the Trans-Tasman bubble saw a total of 47,032 Australian tourists arrive in New Zealand in June, which is just under half the number of Australian arrivals seen in June 2019, and 10% lower than May.
- Wellington airport continues to have benefited the most from the travel bubble, with 4,878 international arrivals in June, equivalent to 35% of pre-pandemic international arrivals.
- More kiwis left for an international holiday in June, with 43,062 total departures in June, up from 37,622 in May.
Tourism since COVID-19
Monthly tourist arrivals
...and our reaction
- June traveller numbers were lower than a month earlier. The rapid increase in arrivals in May was likely the result of pent-up demand for visiting friends and family.
- The COVID outbreak in Victoria in June, and subsequent lockdown and border closures will likely have limited growth in arrivals through June.
- It is somewhat surprising that New Zealand departures didn’t slow in the same way as arrivals into the country did, especially as travel restrictions from Australia were beginning to take place by the end of June.
- While the travel bubble may have provided some temporary relief for firms reliant on international demand, it seems as though it may have been short lived, with the COVID outbreaks not showing any sign of slowing down across the ditch.
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