Our take on the latest Tourism data (Fri 13 Mar 2026)
Tourism arrivals
Tourism arrivals
Tourism arrivals
0.9%
4.1%
97%In January 2026 from December 2025 (seasonally adjusted)
Over the year to January 2026
Of pre-pandemic levels in January 2026
The key numbers...
- Growth in tourism arrivals slowed in January 2026, with arrivals rising 0.9% from December 2025 (seasonally adjusted), down from 1.6% growth in December 2025 (revised). Despite this softening, January’s growth marks the seventh consecutive month of rising tourist arrivals.
- January arrivals reached 97% of January 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels – a new high.
- Arrivals over the year to January 2026 were 5.0% higher than the year to January 2025, down slightly from 5.9% growth over the year to December 2025.
- Growth in arrivals from our biggest market, Australia, slowed a little in January 2026, rising 7.7%pa compared with January 2025, down from 8.5%pa growth in December 2025. However, January’s growth was the 10th successive rise in Aussie arrivals. Chinese arrivals fell 30%pa in January 2026 due to the timing of the Chinese New Year. UK arrivals continue to grow, rising 12%pa in January. Arrivals from the US rose 5.0%pa.
- Growth in departures of New Zealanders also slowed, rising 0.9% between December 2025 and January 2026 (seasonally adjusted), down from 4.4% growth in December 2025 (revised).
...and our reaction
- Growth in tourism arrivals weakened in January, due largely to a fall in Chinese arrivals. Almost 15,200 more tourists entered New Zealand in January 2026 compared with January 2025, despite a 10,800 fall in Chinese tourist arrivals.
- The fall in Chinese tourist arrivals is related to the timing of Chinese New Year. In 2025, January saw a surge in Chinese arrivals as New Year celebrations began on 29 January. This year, celebrations began on 17 February (and went through to 3 March). Consequently, January 2026 arrivals were well down, but we expect to see a surge in Chinese arrivals in February.
- In January this year, the New Zealand dollar strengthened against the Chinese yuan, the UK pound and the US dollar, making New Zealand a less affordable holiday destination. However, long haul trips of this nature are unlikely to be strongly influenced by short-term exchange rate movements. The New Zealand dollar continued to weaken against the Australian dollar, making New Zealand an increasingly affordable option for Australian tourists.
- Growth in arrivals to Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington Airports slowed in January 2026. Arrivals to Queenstown Airport bucked the trend with strengthening growth. Arrivals on new routes to Dunedin and Hamilton continue to post strong arrivals numbers.
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