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 2025:

• Tourism was New Zealand second largest export earner
• Total tourism expenditure was $46.6 billion, the highest it’s ever been, and is an increase of 3.3 percent ($1.5 billion) from the previous year
• International tourism expenditure increased by 7% percent ($1.2 billion) to $18.1 billion. This is a recovery of 106% compared to 2019 ($17.2 billion)
• GST generated from international tourists totalled $1.9 billion, an increase of $155 million
• Overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand increased 4.2 percent to 3.2 million
• Tourism generated a direct contribution to GDP of $18 billion, or 4.6 percent of GDP, an increase of 3.4 percent or $0.6 billion to the New Zealand economy from the previous year.
• 194,631 New Zealanders were directly employed in the tourism sector, an increase of 5,205 people from the previous year
• In total, 327,888 people were directly or indirectly employed in tourism, or one in 9 New Zealanders.