International visitors are spending more

• Between April and June this year, international visitors spent $2.6 billion, an increase of 17% from the same period in 2023, after inflation adjustment. 
• For the year ending June 2024, international visitors contributed $11.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy. When adjusted for inflation, this is about 85% of international visitor spend for the same period in 2019 ($9.4 billion), up from 80% for year end March 2024.
• International visitor numbers are now at 83% of 2019 levels. Over the last year, travel purpose has shifted, with a decrease in the proportion of visitors staying with family and friends or those from Australia, and an increase in higher-spending tourists.

“These latest IVS results show that New Zealand is recovering well and in line or ahead of other comparative countries, such as Australia,” says MBIE’s Manager Tourism Evidence and Insights Amapola Generosa.

“The uptick in visitor spending is primarily down to a larger proportion of higher spending visitors, such as those coming from China and those coming for holidays or business, and a decrease in the proportion of lower spending visitors, such as those from Australia or people staying with family and friends,” she says.

Full results from the International Visitor Survey as well as other sector data can be found in the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre:

International Visitor Survey(external link) — teic.mbie.govt.nz