Overseas visitor arrivals continue to pick up

Overseas visitor arrivals were 2.96 million in the December 2023 year, according to data released by Stats NZ today. This was up 1.52 million from the 2022 year.

By the end of 2023, overseas visitor arrival numbers were 79 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

"Growth in overseas visitor numbers continued in 2023 following the progressive reopening of the border in March 2022," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

"The year saw more international flights with Australia, the United States, and China. These countries drove the increase in overseas visitor arrivals in 2023."

By the end of 2023, visitor arrivals from Australia and the United States were 82 percent and 92 percent, respectively, of their pre-pandemic levels. Visitor arrivals from China were 53 percent of its pre-pandemic level.

Overseas visitors are people living overseas who are in New Zealand for less than 12 months and include New Zealand and non-New Zealand citizens.

New Zealand-resident traveller arrival numbers lift

New Zealand-resident travellers returned from 2.68 million short-term (less than 12 months) overseas trips in the 2023 year, an increase of 1.36 million from the 2022 year.

By the end of 2023, the number of New Zealand-resident traveller arrivals was 88 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

Australia was the main destination for 1.03 million New Zealand-resident arrivals, followed by Fiji (201,700), the United States (162,100), and the United Kingdom (113,100).