Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2024, by country

The largest group of international visitors to New Zealand arrived from Australia in the 2024 financial year, with almost 1.3 million Australian arrivals recorded. This accounted for over a third of the total number of international arrivals to New Zealand that year. The United States accounted for the second-largest international tourist group entering the country in 2024, followed by China, the United Kingdom, and India. While Australia was the source market with the highest arrival numbers to New Zealand, China witnessed the largest growth in international visitors to the country in 2024 from the previous year.

New Zealand’s international visitor economy recovery

Over 3.2 million international tourists were recorded in New Zealand in 2024, marking an increase of over 675 thousand from the previous year, and a growth of over three million from the low visitor arrival numbers witnessed in 2021. With the number of international arrivals on the recovery, international tourist expenditure has picked up again, coming in at around 10.8 billion New Zealand dollars in the year ended March 2023, with domestic visitor spending continuing its steady upward trajectory since 2014. International visitors to New Zealand recorded the highest spending on accommodation across tourism-related product types in the first quarter of 2024, followed by eating out at restaurants, cafés, and other food establishments.

What encourages international tourists to visit New Zealand?

The country’s landscapes and scenery was the top deciding factor in visiting New Zealand among international tourists, according to a survey conducted in the first quarter of 2024, followed by going to see friends and relatives. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies were a key incentive for just over 12 percent of participants. Among the leading activities undertaken by international visitors when visiting the country, walking, hiking, swimming, and surfing were the most popular, as well as boating-related activities.