New Zealand's tourism market has continued to grow steadily, as the month of August saw a 2.2 percent increase over last year.
Tourism arrivals continue to grow modestly, with 2.2 percent growth in August, following 2.7 percent growth in July, all on a monthly seasonally adjusted basis. August arrivals represent 92 percent of August 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, up from 85 percent in August 2024, demonstrating a slow but steady tourism recovery. Arrivals over the year to August 2025 were 5.5 percent higher than the year to August 2024.
Visitors from Australia accounted for just over half of the growth in arrivals in August, although the 7.6 percent pa growth in Australian arrivals was very similar to the overall growth of 7.5 percent pa. Japan, Taiwan and China all recorded solid growth, together accounting for 29 percent of the growth in arrivals during August. Out of the 18 major markets that we track, all but two, India and the Netherlands, recorded growth in August.
Visitor arrivals to Christchurch rose 17 percent pa in August, reaching 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Auckland, Wellington, and Queenstown all recorded steady arrivals growth of around five percent pa. Arrivals on new routes into Dunedin and Hamilton have stabilised at a similar level to July.
Departures of NZ tourists slowed in August, up just 1.9 percent from July (seasonally adjusted) and 1.0 percent from August 2024.
August was a notably positive month all round for tourism arrivals. Steady growth in arrivals across most markets and all NZ airports is encouraging to see. The Chinese tourism market remains a shadow of its former self, at 70 percent of pre-pandemic levels, but it still made a meaningful contribution to growth in August.
The US market, which drove our post-pandemic recovery and then stalled this year, recorded modest, yet positive, growth too. The US remains the largest tourism market by dollar value for most NZ regions, so economic fragility in the US remains a key risk to our tourism sector.
Out of New Zealand’s two biggest airports, Christchurch lagged behind Auckland in terms of post-pandemic recovery throughout 2023 and 2024. However, in 2025, Christchurch has marched ahead, and arrivals have grown significantly faster than for Auckland for the past three months.
Friends and family continue to drive tourism recovery. Arrivals visiting friends and family amounted to 99 percent of pre-pandemic levels in the year to August 2025, followed by vacations at 86 percent and business at 62 percent. Recently announced major event funding from the Government might boost vacation arrivals slightly, but it is more likely to discourage Kiwis from leaving, by bringing big-name acts into New Zealand.
More news here.
