NEW ZEALAND “World’s most trusted visitor destination” – Tourism Minister

TRENZ 26: Māori tourism businesses and what they offer is central to how international visitors experience NZ – Image: TIA

New Zealand is a safe destination to visit, but it is becoming a more expensive country, due to the Iran war. These are key takeaways from New Zealand’s biggest tourism and travel conference, TRENZ 26 (Tourism Rendezvous NZ), which is organized annually by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) and was held in Auckland’s new International Convention Centre (NZICC).

“We are the world’s most trusted visitor destination,” said Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston during a press conference at the NZICC. The current fuel crisis with increased costs resulting from the Middle East conflict “has a little impact”, the Minister said, and “we’re working on it”. Forward bookings from international visitors for the remainder of the year were positive, according to Upston. “US people are still planning holidays!”

Higher fuel cost for tourism operators in New Zealand so far have mainly been absorbed, according to Neuseeland Australien News-interviews during TRENZ 26. However, if the crisis continues, those higher running costs will have to be passed onto holidaymakers in Aotearoa.

TRENZ 26: “Visitors to New Zealand are looking for safety”, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon – Image: TIA

“The government is busy to secure more fuel supplies”, declared the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, at the conference. And he agrees with Upston: “Visitors to New Zealand are looking for safety”.

Feedback from some TRENZ-participants was that they had a record New Zealand summer, said Tourism Industry Aotearoa-Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram (TIA). “The positive momentum gave a strong platform to cope with the disruption of the Iran War and the sharp increases in costs that tourism businesses are adapting to or absorbing as best as they can”.

There have been limited impacts on international visitor arrivals to date, with March and April showing very good performance despite trimmed international air capacity, according to Ingram. “Tourism in New Zealand is showing resilience, but there is a strong focus needed for the summer 26/27.”

New Zealand travel and tourism trends

Wellness and restorative experiences are appearing strongly across regions, Ingram pointed out. “It’s a genuine national strength, and international demand for slow, restorative travel is meeting a need New Zealand is well placed to deliver. “And the increase in Māori tourism businesses and what they offer is central to how international visitors experience NZ.”

Food and wine tourism also has genuine breadth – from cellar doors, lodge stays, dining experiences and curated touring. It’s a substantive part of the offering now, according to the TIA-Boss.

As is water: Marine and water-based experiences are “hot”, more than a quarter of TRENZ exhibitors offered kayak, cruise, ocean adventure or harbour tours.

“It is the connection to nature that runs through almost everything. Wildlife, conservation, geothermal, forests – connecting with New Zealand’s natural environment is a core part of the country’s offering,” said Ingram.

“When global events create uncertainty for tourism, the Chief Executive continued, “TIA’s job is to be across it quickly. Coordinating intelligence, staying close to government, keeping the industry informed.”

TRENZ 26: “Travel is one of the few remaining forces that puts people in genuine contact with one another, ” TIA Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram – Image: TIA

AI in tourism: People don’t travel to gather information

Global tourism is currently experiencing record-breaking growth. The travel and tourism sector is growing faster than the global economy, contributing a record US$11.6 trillion to global GDP in 2025 – that’s almost 10% of the global economy, said Rebecca Ingram.

“The way people find, choose and book travel has changed more in the last three years than in the previous thirty. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can now build a personalised itinerary in seconds. It brings together thousands of reviews into a single recommendation. It generates images of a place you’ve never been, written in your language, pitched at your interests, priced to your budget. For tourism businesses the relationship between a traveller and a destination is increasingly being mediated by a platform or an algorithm.”

“A recent US study by Phocuswright showed that over half of US travellers are now actively using AI to inform their travel booking decisions. These AI travellers are profiling as younger, taking more trips annually and spending significantly more on travel during these trips.”

“If AI can plan the trip, describe the destination, recommend the operator and generate the content,” Ingram continued, “what can’t it do? It can’t give comfort or reassurance on travels like a guide or agent can. And it can’t make you feel.”

“People don’t travel to gather information,” said TIA’s Chief Executive. “They travel because they are seeking a feeling. Often one they couldn’t name before they had it. Perspective. Renewal. Contact with something ancient or vast. Discovery. The quality of being somewhere that is not their ordinary life. Travel is one of the few remaining forces that puts people in genuine contact with one another. With other cultures, other landscapes, other ways of being in the world. That’s not a small thing. That is a function tourism performs almost like nothing else.”

Tourism is a strategic asset for the New Zealand economy. Tourism is one of the country’s largest employers, directly and indirectly supporting almost 330,000 jobs – that’s one in every nine jobs. For the year ended 2025, tourism generated $46.6 billion in visitor spending across the country, including $18.1 billion from international visitors, up 7%. That visitor spending translated into a 7.7% of New Zealand’s GDP, reinforcing tourism’s importance to the national economy. The industry is on track toward its Tourism 2050 goal of contributing $55 billion annually by 2030.

TRENZ 26: “New Zealand is the world’s quintessential must visit-destination”, Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar – Image: TIA

New Air connectivity: Major international expansion set to boost Christchurch and South Island growth  

At TRENZ 26, Air New Zealand announced three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo (Narita) and Perth as part of an agreement with Christchurch Airport to grow international connectivity into the South Island.

Launching from late October, the new services mark a significant expansion of international flying from Christchurch, enabled by Air New Zealand’s 787 aircraft returning to service after being grounded due to global engine maintenance issues, and new 787 aircraft entering the fleet.

The first Christchurch-Singapore service will depart on 28 October, followed by Christchurch-Narita on 28 November, and Christchurch-Perth on 30 November.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Louise Upston, said, “New Zealand is a trading nation so being well connected to the world matters. It supports tourism, helps our exporters reach global markets, and ensures people and goods can move reliably.

“This agreement between Air New Zealand and Christchurch Airport reflects a collective focus on long-term practical growth – strengthening direct connections and opening up more opportunities for the South Island.”

“Fuel prices will eventually stabilize,” said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar at the TRENZ 26 press conference. “And as New Zealand’s national airline we think about connectivity at a country level – where we can help open up the greatest value and opportunities for customers, for regions, and for the economy. With aircraft returning to service, we’re now in the fantastic position of being able to grow again, and we are delighted this is going to happen in the South Island.”

“New Zealand is more attractive than ever,” said Ravishankar. “It is the world’s quintessential must visit-destination”.

Next year’s Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand will be held in Christchurch in the South Island.

TRENZ 2027: Next year’s Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand’s “mainland” between Ocean and Alps – Image: Christchurch Airport

NAN 26-05-26

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