NZ tourism hits a US record as China rebounds

What the numbers say

Statistics New Zealand said Thursday in Wellington that international arrivals hit 3.74 million in the past 12 months, a 9% rise. US visitors reached a record 390,116 over the same period, making up 10% of total arrivals and ranking behind Australia as the second-largest source market.

A cheaper kiwi has helped those numbers. The New Zealand dollar dropped 6.6% against the US dollar over the last six months, stretching American spending power on the ground.

China is catching up fast. In the 12 months through September, arrivals from China climbed to 340,125, an increase of more than 94,000 from a year earlier. That puts Chinese travel at 84% of pre-Covid levels, with visits previously peaking above 454,000 in January 2019.

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Marketing and air links

Tourism New Zealand launched a new campaign for Americans last month, casting the country as the "ultimate wellness studio" with geothermal waters, forest trails and Māori culture. The government is allocating money to market New Zealand worldwide, with campaigns also targeting the US.

Capacity has been increased by Air New Zealand Ltd. along with competing airlines to stimulate inbound traffic. The flag carrier runs nonstop services to five US destinations, one of which is New York. From California, US operators including Delta Air Lines Inc. and American Airlines operate daily flights to Auckland.

Who is gaining, and what to watch

Tourism remains a relative bright spot for New Zealand's economy, contributing around 17% of exports and close to 12% of jobs once indirect employment is counted. The visitor mix is shifting, too. "Chinese arrivals have outnumbered US arrivals for the past six months, and at current growth rates, will overtake the US to become New Zealand's second largest tourism market," said Nick Brunsdon, principal economist at Infometrics.

For your portfolio, the takeaway is simple: demand is rising, airlines are opening seats, and the currency setup supports US spending. That points to momentum for carriers, lodging, and services tied to Auckland and the main tourist regions.

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