While visitor arrivals slipped from April to May, broader industry recovery has been supported by a noticeable jump from 2025.
International visitor arrivals fell 1.8 percent in May 2026, from April 2026, on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, arrivals were up 6.7 percent pa from May 2025, amounting to 93 percent of pre-pandemic levels (May 2019). There were 3,659,447 foreign tourist arrivals over the year to May 2026, 8.5 percent more than the year to May 2025.
China accounted for 34 percent of the increase in visitor arrivals in May, with 4,362 more Chinese arrivals in May 2026 compared to May 2025, a rise of 27 percent pa. Australian arrivals accounted for 26 percent of the increase with 3,330 more arrivals (a rise of 3.9 percent pa). Arrivals from Malaysia were up 1,865 (60 percent pa) and arrivals from Singapore were up 1,674 (35 percent pa). Together, arrivals from Malaysia and Singapore accounted for 28 percent of the increase between May 2026 and May 2025. Arrivals from the United States and the United Kingdom fell slightly.
Chinese arrivals are now at 77 percent of pre-pandemic levels over the year to May 2026, still well behind Australia (102 percent) and the United States (105 percent). Singapore is at 100 percent and Malaysia 86 percent.
Christchurch Airport continues to lead growth in international visitor arrivals, with a 22 percent pa increase in May 2026, just ahead of Queenstown (20 percent), and well ahead of Auckland (0.7 percent pa) and Wellington (0.2 percent pa).
Christchurch Airport continues to lead growth in international visitor arrivals, with a 22 percent pa increase in May 2026, just ahead of Queenstown (20 percent), and well ahead of Auckland (0.7 percent pa) and Wellington (0.2 percent pa).
Principal Consultant at Infometrics, Rob Heyes, said international arrivals slipped in May 2026, as conflict in the Middle East discouraged travel from North America and Europe, with flight disruptions and higher airfares contributing factors.
However, the broader tourism recovery continues and is driven by China, with notable contributions from Malaysia and Singapore.
“Australia remains our largest tourism market and arrivals continue to grow incrementally, despite being back above pre-pandemic levels,” said Heyes.
Departures of New Zealand citizens have also remained volatile.
May’s month-to-month fall of 4.7 percent (seasonally adjusted) comes on the back of a 1.3 percent fall in April, which suggests the low New Zealand dollar and effects of the Iran War are undermining Kiwis’ willingness to travel overseas.
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