Newly released data from Statistics New Zealand reveals a remarkable resurgence in the tourism sector, underscoring its vital role in driving economic growth across New Zealand.
The latest Tourism Satellite Account figures for the year ended March 2024 show a significant 59 percent increase in tourism spending, totalling more than $16 billion in revenue. As New Zealand’s second-largest export industry, tourism continues to create jobs, stimulate investment, and reinforce the country’s global reputation as a premier destination.
A cornerstone of the economy
According to the figures, the visitor economy directly and indirectly supports 303,420 jobs – equivalent to 10.7 percent of the country’s workforce. Additionally, tourism contributed 7.5 percent to New Zealand’s GDP, up from 6.9 percent in the previous period, highlighting its growing influence on national prosperity.
While domestic travel saw a slight decline, with Kiwi holiday spending dropping 2.5 percent to $27.5 billion, international tourism proved a major economic driver. Overseas visitors spent $16.9 billion in the year to March 2024 – an increase of $10.6 billion from the prior year, demonstrating strong recovery post-pandemic.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram emphasised the sector’s positive trajectory.
“The big news amongst the big numbers is that while Kiwis were spending less, international visitors were providing an important stimulus to our economy. It also shows that tourism businesses were hiring and creating positive employment opportunities,” says Ingram.
New growth and investment opportunities
With total tourism spending reaching $44.4 billion, the sector is on track to achieve its ambitious goal of contributing $55 billion annually by 2030. Encouragingly, the number of tourism businesses grew by 15.1 percent, signalling confidence in the industry and new opportunities for innovation and investment.
BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich echoed TIA’s optimism, saying that while the tourism industry has made significant strides in its post-pandemic recovery, continued investment is essential.
“If we want New Zealand to remain a top tourism destination, we must continue investing in much-needed infrastructure, so visitors can enjoy a high-quality experience unmatched by anything in the world.”
The expansion of world-class conference centers in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, alongside ongoing hotel developments, is expected to attract more international business and leisure travelers. These advancements not only enhance New Zealand’s competitiveness in the global tourism market but also provide long-term economic benefits through job creation and regional development.
Policy support and future outlook
Government support has played a key role in the industry’s ongoing growth, with a series of new initiatives aimed at strengthening tourism and conservation efforts. TIA remains committed to working alongside policymakers to ensure that the sector remains resilient and continues to contribute positively to the nation’s economy.
Despite global economic uncertainties, the latest tourism data presents a strong case for New Zealand’s visitor economy as a sustainable and expanding pillar of national growth.
