Arrivals in New Zealand were weak during May; however, subtle yet strong growth was recorded in the preceding months.
Tourism arrivals were weak in May, down 0.9 percent from May 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, modest growth was recorded in prior months, with arrivals in the three months to May 2025 up 3.3 percent pa, and 6.1 percent pa in the year to May.
Recovery of arrivals from China has been sluggish, reaching just 59 percent of pre-pandemic levels in the year to May 2025. However, arrivals from China rose 17 percent per annum in the month, impressive growth from our third-largest market. Arrivals from the USA, the second largest market, continue to grow strongly, up 8.5 percent pa in May.
There were 280,559 departures of New Zealand tourists during the month, up 1.7 percent pa from April, equating to 102 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with departures above pre-pandemic levels every month in 2025 so far.
New Zealand’s tourism recovery continues to grind slowly. With tourist arrivals in the year to May 2025 at 87 percent of pre-pandemic levels, it will be several years of slow growth until arrivals return to pre-pandemic levels. A weak outlook for global growth could put consumers into their shells and slow tourism growth further.
“Changes to US trade and foreign policy are yet to have a perceptible effect on tourist arrivals to New Zealand, with US arrivals still growing. However, arrivals from Canada have picked up, with double-digit annual growth in April and May, which could be an early sign of Canadian tourists looking for destinations outside the US,” said Nick Brunsdon of Infometrics.
“Flight connectivity between New Zealand and Australia continues to grow, with new routes to Cairns and the Gold Coast already underway, and new routes to Adelaide and Perth coming soon. In coming months, we will see whether these routes attract more inbound tourism than outbound tourism.”
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