Our take on the latest Tourism data (Fri 10 Sept 2021)
30,209 foreign tourist arrivals in July
35,562 total departures of NZ tourists
More departures than arrivals in July
The key numbers...
- In July, the final month of the Trans-Tasman bubble, a total of 30,209 international tourists entered New Zealand, down 41% from June.
- Departures of New Zealand tourists in July was 35,562, down 17% from June.
- Most arrivals flew into Auckland (63%) but as a popular tourist destination, Queenstown airport still accounted for 19% of arrivals.
Tourism since COVID-19
Monthly tourist movements
...and our reaction
- The asymmetric travel bubble was evident in July’s figures, with a significant outbreak in Sydney limiting the ability for Australians to come to New Zealand, but Kiwis still able to fly over to other parts of Australia.
- The Trans-Tasman bubble has now popped, as both New Zealand and Australia face COVID-19 Delta variant outbreaks, with different approaches taken to address this outbreak.
- These latest outbreaks, and the Delta variant, highlights the fragility of a travel bubble without high vaccination rates, and creates uncertainty and hesitancy about how New Zealand will eventually open our borders.
- Today’s release will be our last on tourism statistics until international travel restrictions are again lifted, allowing international arrivals back into the country.
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