Our take on the latest Tourism data (Mon 12 Sept 2022)
Australian arrivals at 76% of usual levels
Kiwi departures at 59% of normal
Monthly arrivals now over 50% of pre-pandemic levels
The key numbers...
- Inbound arrival numbers increased by 42% in July from June 2022. There were 134,200 arrivals in July 2022, representing 52% of the 255,900 arrivals in July 2019.
- Most of our markets are recovering well, with Australian arrivals at 76% of pre-pandemic (July 2019) levels, UK arrivals at 52%, and US arrivals at 42%. Total arrivals are more than triple July 2021, including Australian arrivals more than doubling from a year ago.
- However, tourism from China, which made up 11% of our arrivals pre-pandemic, sits at just 5% of its July 2019 level. There were 1,375 Chinese tourists in July 2022, up from only 179 in July 2021.
- Departures of New Zealanders heading overseas numbered over 195,000 in July, up 39% from June. This figure is 59% of the 332,000 Kiwi departures in July 2019.
Tourism climbing slowly back
Monthly tourism passenger counts
...and our reaction
- Higher arrival numbers from almost all markets in the last month indicate the ski season is attracting visitors. However, elevated flight prices and capacity constraints within the New Zealand hospitality industry may keep a lid on growth.
- The trajectory of recovery is strong, with July 2022 arrivals at a higher proportion of pre-pandemic levels than in June. For example, Australian arrivals were lifted from 67% of pre-pandemic levels in June to 76%, and Japanese arrivals rose from 15% to 23% of pre-pandemic levels.
- However, net tourism remains negative, with departures from New Zealand above inbound arrivals. This gap has widened over the last few months, with net tourism at -45,700 in June and now -61,000 in July.
- The option to leave New Zealand for winter and head somewhere warmer is proving attractive, but with a huge Tourism NZ campaign just released we hope to begin closing the gap. November-March numbers, in the peak summer season, will be the clearest measure of recovery.
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