New Zealand international visitor arrivals reach 95% of 2019 levels

New Zealand’s international tourism sector continues to show recovery, with visitor arrivals in June 2026 reaching 201,900. This figure represents an 8.1 per cent increase compared to June 2025 and brings arrivals to 95 per cent of the levels recorded in June 2019.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston noted that the growth aligns with the government's objective to double the value of tourism exports by 2034. The increase occurred despite International Air Transport Association (IATA) data indicating a 1.7 per cent decline in global air passenger demand during the same period.

Key markets driving this growth include Australia, which remains the largest source of visitors with 108,200 arrivals (up 14 per cent), and China, which saw 14,300 arrivals, a 27 per cent increase from the previous year. For the year ending June 2026, New Zealand welcomed a total of 3,674,600 overseas visitors, a 9 per cent increase over the prior year.