Overall border arrivals to NZ totalled 73,400 in the week-ended 4 Sep, down 38% on the same week in 2019. Of these, 34,100 were non-NZers.

A strong ski season has lifted arrivals to Queenstown to around 90% of 2019 levels. This is higher than other NZ regions for the same period.

However, the majority of border arrivals in the latest week were to Auckland (71%).

Comparative figures are likely to be more volatile due to a lower baseline during this season.

In the week-ended 21 August, there were 28,800 overseas visitor arrivals, 57% of 2019's level.

Australian visitor arrivals totalled 20,700 in the same week, 80% of 2019’s level.

Since the full border reopening on 1 August, arrival numbers outside NZ's main three markets (Australia, the US and the UK) have yet to ramp up.

Arrivals from China, Japan and Germany were down 93%, 75% and 68%, respectively.

International visitor arrivals to NZ for a holiday reached 11,300 in the week-ended 21 August.

This figure continue to be greater than the 10,700 that arrived to visit friends and relatives.

The number of VFR visitor arrivals was down only 14% on 2019 levels.

By the end of the year, total operating airline capacity is estimated to grow to 73% of 2019 levels.

Estimated operating airline capacity in September and October remains similar to August's levels.

North American airline capacity is forecasted to return closest to 2019 levels by November, boosted by increased frequency of flights, and the return of some flight paths.

International ECT spend spend in NZ in the week-ended 4 Sep was down 19% compared to the same week in 2019.

Spend in the industries 'food and liquor' (up 16% in the latest week) and 'fuel and automotive’ (up 5%) have been closest to 2019 levels over the past couple of months.

Spend figures have not been adjusted for inflation (the rate of increase in prices over a given period), so they are expected to be closer to 2019 levels than arrival figures.

Current spend figures are from the low season, and therefore comparative figures from 2019 are likely to be more volatile.

International ECT spend in regions more reliant on international tourism is still below the national average change on 2019’s level (down 19% in the latest week).

A strong ski season in Queenstown resulted in international spend hovering around the national average change on 2019’s level, down 13% in the latest week.

This trend was mainly driven by a larger proportion of arrivals visiting family and relatives (VFR) since the border reopened. VFR visitors are more likely to visit higher population areas (such as Auckland) and less likely to participate and spend in traditional tourism activities.