Tourism impact

Tourism sector's contribution to New Zealand

Before COVID-19, tourism was New Zealand's largest export industry and delivered $40.9 billion to the country. Tourism makes a significant positive impact on regional economies by directly and indirectly employing 1 in 9 New Zealanders.

For the year ended March 2024:

• Tourism was New Zealand second largest export earner
• Total tourism expenditure was $44.4 billion, the highest it’s ever been, and is an increase of 14.6 percent ($6.7 billion) from the previous year
• International tourism expenditure increased 59.9% percent ($6.3 billion) to $16.9 billion. This is a recovery of 98% compared to 2019 ($17.2 billion)
• GST generated from international tourists totalled $1.7 billion, an increase of $689 million
• Overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand increased 45 percent to 3.2 million
• Tourism generated a direct contribution to GDP of $17 billion, or 4.4 percent of GDP, an increase of 16 percent or $2.3 billion to the New Zealand economy
• 182,727 New Zealanders were directly employed in the tourism sector, an increase of 21,729 people from the previous year
• In total, 303,420 people were directly or indirectly employed in tourism, or one in 9 New Zealanders.