International Travel to New Zealand

IBISWorld forecasts international arrivals to New Zealand to rise by 17.9% in 2024-25, to 3.75 million. Growth remains strong in the current year on the back to positive trends resulting from the boarder reopening post-pandemic. The New Zealand border reopened and self-isolation requirements were dropped, in late February and March 2022 respectively, causing a flurry in inbound international arrivals. Likewise, from 20 October 2022, travellers were no longer required to provide proof of vaccination or COVID-19 tests, bolstering consumers’ confidence in travel. International travel has been steadily increasing since, although at a decreasing rate of growth year-on-year.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the largest decrease in the number of international arrivals into New Zealand in 2020-21, falling by 98.6%. The New Zealand Government’s (Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa) heavy restrictions on international arrivals to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the country, which were first implemented in March 2020, significantly constrained international arrival numbers. New Zealand reported just over 50,000 international visitor arrivals during 2020-21. This figure showed improvement in the following year to reach almost 230,000, but the New Zealand border remained closed for the bulk of 2021-22.