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Fresh data released this week shows international visitors are continuing to return to New Zealand, with spending and arrival numbers both trending upward.
The latest International Visitor Survey shows international tourism contributed $12.5 billion to the economy for the year ending December 2025, up 3 per cent on the previous year.
Visitor arrivals reached 90 percent of 2019 levels, totalling 3.89 million people.
Tourism and hospitality minister Louise Upston says the recovery has been encouraging.
“We have seen a really positive recovery of tourist numbers post-COVID, with visitor numbers at 90 per cent of 2019 levels.
“These latest results show annual spend has been steadily increasing since the borders reopened to international visitors.”
Spending from key markets has returned to, or exceeded, pre-pandemic levels. Australian visitors contributed $3.0 billion — 111 percent of their 2019 spend — while visitors from the United States contributed $1.5 billion, reaching 97 percent of 2019 levels.
Overall median spend per visitor rose to $2,248, up 3 per cent, while median daily spend increased to $309, up 8 percent.
Upston says higher per-visitor spending is flowing into accommodation, hospitality and local businesses across the country.
“International tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest export earner and we are focused on growing this vital sector.
“More international visitors mean more customers for our businesses and ultimately more jobs.”
