Our take on the latest Tourism data (Tue 13 Aug 2024)
Overall arrivals up 3.8%pa
Total arrivals at 87% of pre-pandemic levels
Australian arrivals at 94% of pre-pandemic levels
The key numbers...
- Tourism arrivals in June were up 3.8% from June 2023 and are at 87% of pre-pandemic levels. This result is slightly higher than the 83% average over the 12 months to June.
- Queenstown Airport arrivals remain strong at 123% of pre-pandemic levels, as people from Australia are still heading to the slopes this winter. Auckland and Christchurch arrivals are both at 84% of pre-pandemic levels, while Wellington trails behind at 72% of pre-pandemic levels.
- Australian arrivals were promising with arrivals at 94% of pre-pandemic levels, a strong result for this time of year and noticeably higher than the 85% average over the year to June 2024. We note that this result could be partly due to Queensland’s school holidays starting a week earlier in June than they did in 2019.
- Chinese tourist arrivals have bounced back somewhat from last month, with arrivals in June at 72% of pre-pandemic levels. This result is markedly better than the 57% average over the 12 months to June.
- Departures of New Zealanders visiting other countries are at 94% or pre-pandemic levels, slightly below the 97% average over the year to June.
Australian tourism arrivals at 94% of pre-pandemic levels
Monthly tourist arrivals, % of pre-pandemic levels
...and our reaction
- The uptick in Australian tourists is a good sign for places like Queenstown and other winter tourism hotspots. However, overall tourism is still being weighed down by the sluggish Chinese economy and subdued arrivals from other Asian countries.
- Current global economic conditions are not conducive to massive tourism numbers, and we expect that it could be another three years before overall numbers surpass pre-pandemic figures.
- New Zealand departures overseas are hovering just below pre-pandemic levels. Tough financial conditions for households, including high living costs, high interest rates, and the weakening labour market are likely to constrain further growth in departure numbers over the next 12-18 months.
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 2026Tourism 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