New Zealand Tourism Statistics

Page last updated: 17 October 2025

New Zealand, with its popular natural landscapes, vibrant Maori culture, and adventure-filled destinations, has become a must-visit destination for travellers worldwide.

How many tourists visit New Zealand each year?

Over 3 million tourists travel to New Zealand each year.¹

• From 2013 to 2019, the number of overseas tourists grew from 2.72 million to 3.89 million.

• Due to international border closures and travel restrictions during the pandemic, visitor numbers dropped to approximately 996,350 in 2020 and 206,862 in 2021.

• In 2022, 1.43 million visitors were recorded, with tourism figures in 2023 increasing by 107.0% from 2022, reaching nearly 2.96 million overseas visitors.

• New Zealand recorded 3.31 million tourist arrivals in 2024, an 11.8% increase compared with 2023.

How many visitors did New Zealand welcome in 2025?

Around 1.92 million overseas tourists visited New Zealand till July 2025, a slight 4.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

• The first three months of the year recorded over 300,000 overseas visitors each, making the period the busiest of the year. On the other hand May and June had less than 200,000 overseas visitors.

Monthly Visitors in New Zealand 2025
Month	2025 Visitors
January	370,238
February	354,408
March	311,808
April	267,271
May	190,593
June	186,753
July	236,550

How many people visited New Zealand in 2024?

• New Zealand welcomed roughly 3.31 million international visitors in 2024, up 11.8% from the 2.96 million arrivals registered in 2023.
  
  

How much do overseas visitors spend in New Zealand?

International tourists spent over $12.20 billion during trips to New Zealand in the year ending March 2024.

• From the year ending March 2017 to 2020, New Zealand saw consistent growth in international tourism expenditure, peaking in 2020 with over $17.69 billion.

• The pandemic (year ending March 2021 and 2022) reduced tourism spending to around $1.49 billion and $1.94 billion, respectively.

• In the year ending March 2023, international visitor spending rebounded to around $10.82 billion, a 457.7% increase from the previous year, but this was still below the 2020 peak.

• In 2024, international visitors spent $12.20 billion, an 12.8% increase compared with 2023.

How much did visitors spend in New Zealand in 2024?

• International tourists spent approximately $12.20 billion during trips to New Zealand in the year ending March 2024.
  
  

What countries visit New Zealand the most?

Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and India were the primary sources of international tourists to New Zealand in 2023.

• Australia was the leading source of international visitors to New Zealand, with more than 1.39 million Australians making the trip.

• The United States followed, bringing over 369,635 American travelers in 2023.

• China (248,478 arrivals), The United Kingdom (179,856 arrivals), and India (82,878 arrivals) followed, showing New Zealand’s continued appeal to tourists from various parts of the world.

• In 2024, these five markets together contributed 2.27 million visitor arrivals, a 13.3% increase compared with 2023.

Impact of Coronavirus – New Zealand Tourism Statistics 2021

• In 2021, New Zealand saw a sharp decrease in international visitors, with only 206,862 tourists, representing a 79.23% decline compared to the prior year. 
  
• Similarly, international tourism expenditure dropped by 91.6%, falling to $1.49 billion from $17.69 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2020.
  
  
  

Impact of Coronavirus – New Zealand Tourism Statistics 2020 

Over 996,000 international visitors travelled to New Zealand in 2020, a 74.4% decrease from 3.8 million in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and global travel restrictions.

• The majority of tourists still came from Australia, although the number fell to just over 1.1 million, a decrease of 22.6% compared to the previous year.

• Visitor numbers from China also dropped by over 41%.
  
  

How long do international tourists stay in New Zealand?

• In 2024, international tourists stayed for an average of 10 nights in New Zealand.
  
  

New Zealand Travel Resources

When are the peak tourist months in New Zealand?

• December was the busiest month of 2024, with 469,842 visitors, driven by Christmas and New Year holidays plus the start of New Zealand’s warm summer break.

• February welcomed 362,836  visitors, benefiting from late-summer weather and major events like Waitangi Day celebrations that draw domestic and international travellers alike.

• March attracted 340,306 visitors, as pleasant early-autumn conditions and festivals such as Auckland’s Pasifika Festival kept demand high after the peak summer rush.

• January saw 326,427 visitors, boosted by school holidays and nationwide summer events that encourage families and adventure seekers to explore the country.

• November recorded 321,216 visitors, marking the transition into New Zealand’s high season when spring blooms, warmer temperatures and events like the World of WearableArt Awards Show entice travelers ahead of the holiday surge.

Why do tourists visit New Zealand?

• In 2024, the main reason tourists visited New Zealand was for a holiday, representing 48% of the total inbound tourism.

• Following closely, visiting friends and relatives accounted for 31% of visits.

• Business travel contributed 6%, while the remaining 15% of visitors came for other purposes such as education, medical tourism, or using New Zealand as a transit point.
  

Top Destinations in New Zealand

• Auckland: New Zealand’s largest city, combining urban culture with beaches and nearby islands such as Waiheke Island. Over 2.26 million international tourists in 2024.

• Wellington: The capital city, known for the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum and its waterfront. Over 169,000 international tourists visited Wellington in 2024.

• Queenstown: A major destination for adventure tourism, offering activities such as bungee jumping, skiing, and jet boating. Queenstown had an estimated 412,900 international tourist arrivals in 2024.

• Christchurch: Known for its blend of historic and modern elements, including the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and the Cardboard Cathedral. Christchurch welcomed roughly 426,900 international tourists over the course of 2024.

• Milford Sound: Part of Fiordland National Park, recognised for its natural beauty, including Mitre Peak and waterfalls.
  
  

New Zealand Outbound Tourism Statistics for 2024

Throughout 2024, New Zealand residents took more than 3.16 million trips abroad.

• Australia was the top destination, attracting more New Zealand tourists than any other country.

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References

1.  Stats NZ: International travel December 2024 ↩︎