New Zealand is an extremely popular destination for international visitors, and it’s easy to see why!
New Zealand as a destination is hugely diverse and unique. The natural environment is the main reason for visitors to come to New Zealand. Visitors want to see our immense mountain ranges, our magnificent alpine glaciers and dramatic fiords, not to mention our beautiful native forests, our stunning sandy beaches and rugged coastlines.
Tourism is our biggest export sector. How can this be, do you ask? The term export refers to products made in New Zealand being exported and sold to foreign countries. However, tourism brings its customers to New Zealand and the product being sold is New Zealand.
A TOURIST is defined as “a temporary visitor staying at least 24 hours in the country visited who may be travelling for business, leisure, recreation, study, religion etc”.
Tourism directly contributes $15.9 billion (or 6.1%) to the New Zealand GDP (gross domestic product). A further $11.1 billion (or 4.3%) is indirectly contributed. (Tourism Industry Aotearoa, 2019)
