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New Zealand’s international visitor arrivals are nearing pre-pandemic levels, with strong growth from Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom offsetting declines from China.
Latest figures from Stats NZ show 385,400 overseas visitor arrivals in January 2026, up 15,200 year-on-year.
The total was 97 per cent of January 2019 levels, indicating the international tourism recovery is close to full restoration.
Australia remained the largest source market, with arrivals up 10,700, followed by the United Kingdom (up 3,700) and the United States (up 2,600). Germany also recorded growth, up 1,900 arrivals.
Arrivals from China fell by 10,800, largely due to the later timing of Chinese New Year in 2026 compared with 2025.
Changing visitor mix
Australia accounted for 39 per cent of arrivals, up from 36 per cent in 2019, while the United States increased its share to 15 per cent, from 10 per cent pre-pandemic.
China’s share fell to 7 per cent, down from 11 per cent in 2019, reflecting ongoing shifts in the composition of international visitors.
The United Kingdom held steady at 9 per cent, while Germany and Canada accounted for 3 per cent each.
Outbound travel hits record levels
New Zealand-resident travel also reached record highs, with 348,400 arrivals recorded in January 2026, up 18,100 year-on-year.
This was the highest monthly total on record, exceeding the previous peak in July 2018.
Growth was led by China (up 9,500 arrivals), alongside increases from Australia, Japan, India and the Philippines.
Annual outbound travel reached 3.12 million arrivals in the year to January 2026, also a record and 109 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Annual trends show continued recovery
For the year to January 2026, overseas visitor arrivals reached 3.52 million, up 167,000 year-on-year.
Australia drove the majority of growth (up 124,000 to 1.53 million), followed by the United States and the United Kingdom. China remained the only major market to decline over the period.
Border activity exceeds pre-pandemic levels
Total border crossings reached 1.46 million in January 2026, or 102 per cent of January 2019 levels, reflecting the continued recovery in international travel flows.
Digital adoption also continues to increase, with just over two-thirds of travellers now completing the New Zealand Traveller Declaration digitally.
