Tourism News - 2025 – growing year-round arrivals to New Zealand

Early signs show the summer season is looking strong.

No images? Click here. 5 February 2025 Kia ora THE   I hope you all had a successful start to 2025. Early signs for the summer season are encouraging, with Stats NZ's provisional data for international arrivals in the four weeks to 5 January up 12% year-on-year, and at 91% of the same period in 2019. The rest of summer is looking strong too with indirect bookings up 17% compared to last summer, according to IATA.    As the summer season continues to see growth, Tourism New Zealand's focus for 2025 will remain on building consideration for year-round travel to New Zealand, with a particular focus on off-peak, and converting that desire into bookings to support our four-year strategy.    There is plenty of exciting work under way. To build desire for New Zealand as a year-round destination in the UK, we've launched a partnership with Russ Cook, aka The Hardest Geezer. Russ is a cultural icon in the United Kingdom, known for running extraordinary distances and it will be fantastic having him on our shores. He'll be running the length of the country, showing off New Zealand from end to end to his audience of over two million people. This project launched overnight in the UK and has already generated hundreds of pieces of coverage and some great reach through Russ's channels.    Russ Cook, aka The Hardest Geezer                                                       In the USA, we're partnering with a high-profile US lifestyle and content platform to showcase New Zealand through our food, people, adventures, and culture to drive spring arrivals. We'll share more in March as this launches.    We also have activity launching across all our markets in March and April that will showcase New Zealand as a year-round destination full of fun and adventures. Keep an eye out for this too.    Working with the trade channels will always be an integral part of Tourism New Zealand's strategy to convert arrivals. This year we will roll out our refreshed New Zealand Specialist Programme across all markets and host in-market trade shows and roadshows to engage travel sellers on the ground. We'll hold events across North America, UK and Europe, India, and Southeast Asia this year. You'll find event prospectuses and registration information in our website.   I met with the new Tourism and Hospitality Minister, the Hon Louise Upston, on her first day in her new portfolio. We're look forward to working with the Minister on her priorities for our sector. These priorities include increasing the value of international tourism in line with the Government's aspirations for economic and export growth. As one of New Zealand's largest export sectors, international tourism has a significant role to play in this. As a first step, the government announced that new visa conditions will visitors to work remotely in New Zealand for up to 90 days for an overseas employer or client. Find out more here.   We're looking forward to continuing to work with you to deliver strong results for Aotearoa New Zealand in 2025.   As always - if you have any questions, feedback, or want to get in touch with myself or one of the Tourism New Zealand team, please contact us.   Ngā mihi, René de Monchy Chief Executive, Tourism New Zealand India market shows strong potential to attract visitors during the off-peak 75% of people in India seriously considering visiting New Zealand have said they would travel here during March-November (off-peak).    Arrivals from India are also looking positive, at 123% compared to pre-Covid in November 2024.   This year TNZ is focused on growing year-round arrivals from India with a focus on festive and holiday breaks, including Diwali in October and November, and the Indian summer break between April and June.    More about the India market here  Largest ever Kiwi contingent heading across the ditch to AIME 2025  Aotearoa New Zealand will showcase what makes it unique – from its Māori culture to Middle-earth – at this year's Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) in Melbourne in February. The Tourism New Zealand 100% Pure New Zealand stand will host its largest ever contingent at AIME 2025, with 36 different New Zealand business events organisations and operators exhibiting. Business events are a key channel for attracting international visitors to New Zealand during the off-peak.   Find out more about AIME Department of Conservation consultations open  DoC are undertaking two public consultations on policies that will have an impact on visitors and tourism operators.   Exploring Charging for Access to Some Public Conservation Land is looking at options to introduce access charges for some public conservation land in New Zealand.     Modernising Conservation Land Management explores options for managing the concessions process and how the department manages land exchanges and disposals.    Submissions close 28 February 2025.   More on DoC consultations here  Kiwi Link India 2025 event prospectus is now live Kiwi Link India 2025 provides an opportunity for the New Zealand tourism industry to educate and establish business relationships with key product managers and front-line travel sellers from India.   Kiwi Link India will take place in July 2025 in Goa and New Delhi.   The prospectus is now live on Tourism New Zealand's website.   See more events here Tourism New Zealand, Manaakitanga Aotearoa. PO Box 95, Level 23, Aon Centre, 1 Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand. Phone +64 4 462 8000 | Email comms@tnz.govt.nz www.tourismnewzealand.com | www.newzealand.com You're receiving this email because you subscribed to our mailing list. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe    Did a friend forward this message? Subscribe here for Tourism News.