Our take on the latest Tourism data (Fri 13 Dec 2024)
Tourism arrivals rose 6.3%pa in October 2024
Total arrivals at 85% of pre-pandemic levels in October 2024
Queenstown Airport arrivals at 139% of pre-pandemic levels in October 2024
The key numbers...
- Tourism arrivals totalled 240,195 in October 2024, up 6.3%pa from October 2023. Arrivals in October 2024 were at 85% of pre-pandemic levels, up from the 80% in October 2023.
- Tourism arrivals from China totalled 15,761, down 3.1% from October 2023. The recovery of visitors from China remains volatile, peaking at 92% of pre-pandemic levels in July, and falling back to 57% in October. Arrivals from China made up 6.6% of tourism arrivals in October 2024, unchanged from October 2023, and well down from 9.8% in October 2019 (pre-pandemic).
- Tourism arrivals from Australia remained strong at 107,599, remaining above 100,000 for the fourth consecutive month. Arrivals from Australia accounted for 45% of overall arrivals in October 2024, up from the 41% in October 2023. Arrivals from Australia were at a solid 90% of pre-pandemic levels in October 2024, having held at or above 90% for the third consecutive month.
- October 2024 made for another good month for Queenstown Airport arrivals, with arrivals at a record-high 139% of pre-pandemic levels. Arrivals at Auckland Airport distantly followed at 80% of pre-pandemic levels, and 78% at Christchurch and Wellington.
Particularly strong arrivals for Queenstown
Arrivals of foreign tourists, % of pre-pandemic levels
...and our reaction
- With a 6.3% gain in arrivals from last year and continued strength in Queenstown arrivals, October was a relatively strong month for New Zealand tourism arrivals, coming after a lacklustre winter. It remains to be seen whether this momentum will continue into the peak summer months.
- Departures of Kiwi tourists heading overseas was 11%pa higher in October 2024 and is at 100% of pre-pandemic levels, the highest level since March 2024. Kiwi departures may trend higher again next year as the impact of lower interest rates starts to flow through to household budgets.
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