Auckland Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 11 October 2024

Auckland is a major city located in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the largest urban area in the country, known for its natural landscapes, multicultural population, and urban life that attracts tourists from around the world.

How many people visit Auckland every year?

Over 2 million international arrivals were reported by Auckland Airport in 2023.¹

• This represented a 111% increase from the 966,000 visitors in 2022 but was still 25.3% lower than the 2.7 million visitors reported in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

• Despite the decline from 2019 figures, 2023 marked a recovery from the travel restrictions of 2020 and 2021, with international arrivals at 700,000 and 143,000 respectively during those years.

How much do visitors spend in Auckland every year?

Auckland’s total tourism expenditure amounted to $7.69 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2023.²

• 2023’s tourism expenditure showed signs of recovery, with an 85.7% increase from 2021 and an 82.4% rise from 2022. However, it was still 13% lower than 2019 and 6.4% below 2020 levels.

• Domestic tourism spending in 2023 amounted to $5.03 billion, showing growth compared to previous years.

• International tourism expenditure in 2023 was $2.65 billion. While it recovered from 2021 and 2022, it remained 42.1% lower than 2019 and 40.6% below 2020 levels.

Where do visitors to Auckland come from?

Australia, the USA, China, the UK and Canada were the primary sources of tourists to Auckland in 2023.³

• Visitors to Auckland primarily originate from Australia, which accounts for about 40% of the total international visitors.

• Following Australia, the UK and the USA are also significant contributors to Auckland’s international tourism.

New Zealand Travel Resources

• Car hire prices in Auckland (or Campervan)
• Compare Car Hire in New Zealand

How many people visited Auckland in 2022?

In 2022, Auckland Airport welcomed 965,538 international visitors. 

• This number reflected a 575.2% increase from the 143,056 arrivals in 2021 but remained 64.6% below the peak of 2.7 million arrivals recorded in 2019.

How much did visitors spend in Auckland in 2022?

Tourist spending in Auckland increased 1.8% in 2022 (year ended March), rising to $4.21 billion. 

• Domestic spending accounted for $3.68 billion of this total, marking a 1.5% increase. 

• Spending by international visitors also improved, climbing by 3.9% to reach $530.1 million.

Impact of Coronavirus – Auckland Tourism Statistics 2020 and 2021

• In 2020, visitor arrivals at Auckland Airport dropped to 700,000, a 74.3% decrease from 2019, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions.

• The decline continued in 2021, with only 143,000 arrivals, marking a further 79.6% decrease from 2020.

From 2020 to 2022, tourist expenditure in Auckland also experienced changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In the year ending March 2021, total expenditure dropped sharply to $4.14 billion in Auckland (a 52.6% decrease from the same period in 2020).
  
  • Domestic expenditure was $3.63 billion, and international expenditure fell to $510.1 million.

• Total expenditure in Auckland increased by 1.8% to $4.21 billion in the year ending March 2022.
  
  • Domestic visitors spent $3.68 billion, and international visitors spent $530.1 million.

Auckland Tourism Statistics 2019

• Auckland Airport welcomed 2.7 million international visitor arrivals in 2019.

• Tourist spending in Auckland for the fiscal year ending in March 2019 reached $8.83 billion, with $4.25 billion from domestic tourists and $4.59 billion from international tourists.

• By March 2020, total tourist spending slightly dropped to $8.73 billion. Domestic spending increased to $4.27 billion, but international spending decreased to $4.46 billion, showing the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Top Attractions in Auckland

• Sky Tower: As Auckland’s most iconic landmark, and the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower welcomes approximately 400,000 visitors every year. 

• Auckland War Memorial Museum: A cultural and historical museum that draws visitors interested in New Zealand’s natural and military history. 

• Kelly Tarlton’s SEA LIFE Aquarium: An underwater aquarium that offers an interactive experience with marine life. 

• Auckland Zoo: Home to a large number of species from New Zealand and around the world.

• Waiheke Island: Known for its vineyards and beaches, Waiheke Island is just a short ferry ride from Auckland.

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References

1.  TRA: Tourism Visitor Summary ↩︎
2.  TRA: Tourism Value ↩︎
3.  ANZ: Auckland Insights and Statistics ↩︎