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Travel and tourism in New Zealand - statistics & facts

International tourist numbers soar, auckland: new zealand’s tourism hotspot, tourism’s carbon footprint is causing concern, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Tourism value added as a share of industry GDP New Zealand 2014-2023

Total tourism expenditure New Zealand 2014-2023, by tourist type

Total number of people employed in the tourism sector New Zealand 2014-2023

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand 2019-2023

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by country of origin

Perceived positive impacts of tourism on culture and heritage New Zealand 2023

Related topics

Recommended.

• Tourism worldwide
• Sustainable tourism worldwide
• Hotel industry worldwide
• Travel and tourism industry in Australia
• Domestic tourism in Australia
• Travel and tourism in the U.S.
• Travel and tourism in the United Kingdom (UK)
• Hotel industry recovery post COVID-19 in New Zealand

Recommended statistics

• Premium Statistic Tourism value added as a share of industry GDP New Zealand 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Tourism GDP growth rate New Zealand 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Total tourism expenditure New Zealand 2014-2023, by tourist type
• Premium Statistic Total tourism expenditure New Zealand 2022-2023, by product type
• Premium Statistic Total number of people employed in the tourism sector New Zealand 2014-2023

Tourism value added as a share of industry GDP in New Zealand from 2014 to 2023

Tourism GDP growth rate New Zealand 2014-2023

Growth of tourism gross domestic product (GDP) in New Zealand from 2014 to 2023

Annual tourism expenditure in New Zealand from 2014 to 2023, by tourist type (in billion New Zealand dollars)

Total tourism expenditure New Zealand 2022-2023, by product type

Total tourism expenditure in New Zealand from 2022 to 2023, by product type (in billion New Zealand dollars)

Total number of people employed in the tourism sector in New Zealand from 2014 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

International tourism

• Premium Statistic Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Annual growth of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by region of origin
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by country of origin
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by port of entry
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by age
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by purpose of visit
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by length of stay

Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand from June 2019 to June 2023

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2014-2023

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand from financial year 2014 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Annual growth of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2014-2023

Annual growth rate of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand from financial year 2014 to 2023

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by region of origin

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by region of origin (in 1,000s)

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by country of origin (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by port of entry

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by port of entry

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by age

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by age (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by purpose of visit

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by purpose of visit (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand FY 2023, by length of stay

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by length of stay (in 1,000s)

Outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Annual number of outbound NZ resident travelers New Zealand FY 2014-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of inbound NZ resident arrivals New Zealand FY 2023, by country visited
• Premium Statistic Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers New Zealand 2022
• Premium Statistic Leading sport tourism experience interests of outbound travelers New Zealand 2022
• Premium Statistic Leading wilderness tourism interests of outbound travelers New Zealand 2022

Annual number of outbound NZ resident travelers New Zealand FY 2014-2023

Annual number of outbound New Zealand resident travelers from New Zealand from financial year 2014 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of inbound NZ resident arrivals New Zealand FY 2023, by country visited

Annual number of inbound New Zealand resident travelers to New Zealand in financial year 2023, by country visited (in 1,000s)

Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers New Zealand 2022

Leading tourism experience interests among outbound travelers from New Zealand in 2022

Leading sport tourism experience interests of outbound travelers New Zealand 2022

Leading sport tourism experience interests among outbound travelers from New Zealand in 2022

Leading wilderness tourism interests of outbound travelers New Zealand 2022

Leading wilderness tourism experience interests among outbound travelers from New Zealand in 2022

Tourism in Auckland

• Premium Statistic Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland New Zealand 2019-2024
• Premium Statistic Annual number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland New Zealand FY 2020-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland, NZ FY 2023, by country origin
• Premium Statistic Share of domestic overnight leisure trips New Zealand 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Top attractions visited by domestic tourists Central Auckland New Zealand FY 2022
• Premium Statistic Top attractions visited by domestic tourists South Auckland New Zealand FY 2022
• Premium Statistic Top attractions visited by domestic tourists North Auckland New Zealand FY 2022

Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland New Zealand 2019-2024

Monthly number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland, New Zealand from June 2019 to January 2024

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland New Zealand FY 2020-2023

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland, New Zealand from financial year 2020 to 2023 (in 1,000s)

Number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland, NZ FY 2023, by country origin

Annual number of international visitor arrivals to Auckland, New Zealand in financial year 2023, by country of origin (in 1,000s)

Share of domestic overnight leisure trips New Zealand 2022, by region

Share of domestic overnight leisure trips taken in New Zealand as at December 2022, by region

Top attractions visited by domestic tourists Central Auckland New Zealand FY 2022

Leading attractions visited by domestic tourists in Central Auckland, New Zealand in financial year 2022

Top attractions visited by domestic tourists South Auckland New Zealand FY 2022

Leading attractions visited by domestic tourists in South Auckland, New Zealand in financial year 2022

Top attractions visited by domestic tourists North Auckland New Zealand FY 2022

Leading attractions visited by domestic tourists in North Auckland, New Zealand in financial year 2022

Views on tourism

• Premium Statistic Views on the impact of international and domestic tourism on New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Views on international tourism impact on post-pandemic economic recovery NZ 2023
• Premium Statistic Perceived positive impacts of tourism on the economy and society New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Views on the environmental impact of international tourism New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Perceived negative impacts of tourism on the environment New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Views on the social well-being impact of international tourism New Zealand 2023
• Premium Statistic Views on the impact of international tourism on culture, values, and heritage NZ 2023

Views on the impact of international and domestic tourism on New Zealand 2023

New Zealanders' views on the impact of international and domestic tourism on New Zealand as at May 2023

Views on international tourism impact on post-pandemic economic recovery NZ 2023

New Zealanders' views on the impact of international tourism on post-pandemic economic recovery in New Zealand as at May 2023

Perceived positive impacts of tourism on the economy and society New Zealand 2023

Perceived positive impacts of tourism on the economy and society in New Zealand as at May 2023

Views on the environmental impact of international tourism New Zealand 2023

New Zealanders' views on the environmental impact of international tourism in New Zealand as at May 2023

Perceived negative impacts of tourism on the environment New Zealand 2023

Perceived negative impacts of tourism on the environment in New Zealand as at May 2023

Views on the social well-being impact of international tourism New Zealand 2023

New Zealanders' views on the impact of international tourism on the social well-being of communities in New Zealand as at May 2023

Views on the impact of international tourism on culture, values, and heritage NZ 2023

New Zealanders' views on the impact of international tourism on culture, values, and heritage in New Zealand as at May 2023

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NZ cruise market 81% of pre-Covid, on track for full recovery – CLIA

The number of New Zealanders taking cruise holidays has recovered to 81.2% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.

Weekly hotel results: NZ falls below 2023

Occupancy, ADR and RevPAR over the whole country are now consistently tracking below last year.

Chinese business travel to NZ on the rise

Business travel between China and New Zealand is on the rise, with a 106% increase in corporate clients for the first three months of 2024 compared to last year.

“We had to make decisions quickly” – Stats NZ insights boss on the suspension of MRTEs

Jason Attewell says the department had to move quickly to find savings in its budget, which led to the sudden suspension of the Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates. 

Westpac: Households cutting discretionary spend, recreation “especially weak”

But the bank says tourism continues to buck the trend as the post-pandemic recovery in travel continues.

Airbnb reveals NZ’s top winter destinations

Queenstown is the country’s most sought-after winter destination, followed by city breaks in Auckland and Christchurch, according to Airbnb.

Air NZ downgrades guidance as domestic softens, competition heats up

The airline says the ongoing softening of its domestic market and a highly competitive North American route could take up to $50m off its full-year profit.

More Kiwis visiting Fiji

The number of New Zealanders visiting Fiji during January and February 2024 is up 15% on the same months last year, says Tourism Fiji.

Weekly hotel results: Wellington lifts off 2024 low

Wellington’s hotel market hit a 2024 low in early April but has managed to bounce back – at least for now – according to figures from STR. 

Rotorua spa & wellness visitor spend to exceed $400m by 2028 – report

The destination’s spa & wellness industry generated $278m in visitor spend in 2023.

CPI: Domestic airfares rise, international fall

Domestic air transport prices for the March 2024 quarter rose 0.1% compared with the same period last year, according to Stats NZ’s latest Consumers Price Index.

Auckland Airport passengers 90% of pre-Covid…

Passenger numbers at Auckland Airport reached 1.69 million in March 2024, up 12% from the previous year and a recovery of 90.4% compared with the same month in pre-Covid 2019.

…as Queenstown Airport internationals exceed 2019 by 27%

International passenger numbers at Queenstown Airport totalled 70,118 in March 2024, up 26.9% on the same month in pre-Covid 2019.

TECNZ more cautious on tourism revival, pushes out full recovery

Tourism Export Council of New Zealand has taken a more conservative outlook on the pace of the country’s tourism recovery.

Chinese New Year boosts visitors to 3.1 million – Stats NZ

Chinese New Year helped drive visitor arrivals from China in February 2024, lifting that market to a four-year high as its recovery from the pandemic continued.

International airfares drop 15%, domestic tick up

The price of international air transport has dropped 15.1% in March 2024 compared with the same month last year, according to Stats NZ’s selected price indexes.

Aus to NZ business travel bookings up 15% – FCM

Bookings from Australia to New Zealand have grown 15% in the first three months of 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to data from Flight Centre Travel Group’s large-market business travel division FCM Travel.

Hospo spend up in March – Stats NZ

Spending in the hospitality category was $1.35m in March 2024, a 0.7% % increase compared with the same month last year, according to electronic card transaction data from Stats NZ.

Domestic travel spend sentiment negative, overseas trips positive – survey

Kiwis’ intentions to spend on domestic travel remain negative but people are more positive about heading overseas, according to Tony Alexander’s latest spending plans survey.

Weekly hotel results: Christchurch holds as city markets fall below 2023

Christchurch was the only metropolitan market to start April above the results for the same period last year, according to figures from STR.

Up to 200 fewer cruise calls next season – Lloyd

There could be up to 200 fewer cruise ship port visits to New Zealand next season in part due to cost increases in a globally competitive market, says Jacqui Lloyd.

Value of hotels, motels consents down 65% in Feb

The value of building consents issued for hotels, motels and other short term accommodation for February 2024 was $8m, a decline of 65.2% from the same month last year.

Transport, postal, warehousing Q4 emissions drop

Seasonally adjusted transport, postal, and warehousing emissions decreased 2.6%, or 44 kilotonnes in the December 2023 quarter compared with the previous quarter, says Stats NZ.

Global tourism, travel set for record $18tn in 2024 – WTTC

“We’re no longer talking about recovery,” says the global industry group, with the sector now supporting 348 million jobs – more than in pre-Covid.

Sales of art, recreation by Māori up 84% – Stats NZ

The value of art, recreation and other services sales by Māori authorities and related businesses in the December 2023 quarter was $68m, according to data from Stats NZ.

Weekly hotel results: Auckland falls furthest, with signs of wider weakness

Occupancy across Auckland’s hotel market fell sharply as summer ended and autumn took hold, according to figures from STR.

Auckland Stadiums sees 220k visitors

More than 220,000 visitors flowed into Auckland Stadiums’ three venues, Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, Western Springs Stadium, and North Harbour Stadium.

Accom, food services filled jobs up 2.8%

Filled jobs in accommodation and food services increased by 2.8% in February 2024 compared with the same month last year, according to Stats NZ.

Air NZ passenger numbers 92% of pre-Covid

Air New Zealand carried 1.3 million passengers in February 2023, a recovery of almost 92.2% on the same month in pre-Covid 2019 and up 8.7% on 2023.

International student numbers near two-thirds of pre-Covid peak, China leads

More than 39,000 international student visa holders are currently in New Zealand, about 62% of the pre-Covid peak, according to government figures.

Accom, food services among top providers of part-time, flexible work

Accommodation and food services businesses are among the top employers offering part-time work, according to figures from Stats NZ.

Weekly hotel results: National occupancy, ADR slip out of summer

Occupancy and ADR across New Zealand have dipped from their February highs, according to figures from STR.

HWT launches Waikato destination dashboard

Hamilton and Waikato Tourism has launched a digital dashboard with information about visitor spend, accommodation, economic indicators and border crossings.

NZ ends 2023 in recession

Seasonally adjusted gross domestic product fell 0.1% in the three months ended December 2023, according to Stats NZ, driven by weak consumer spending and wholesale trade. 

North American market exceeds pre-Covid, airfares fall 12% – Auckland Airport

Fierce airline competition on North American routes has driven a 12% fall in airfares and a record number of arrivals from that region at Auckland Airport.

Overseas visitors spend $13bn in 2023, narrowing deficit

Spending by overseas visitors in New Zealand helped narrow the annual current account deficit for 2023, according to Stats NZ.

Hauraki Coromandel rebounds from weather woes with record $35m Feb visitor spend

Visitor spend in Hauraki Coromandel hit more than $35m in card transactions in February, exceeding pre-Covid, according to its regional tourism organisation.

International visitor arrivals crack 3 million, US now exceeding pre-Covid

The major US market is now tracking above pre-Covid, up 20% on January 2020.

Weekly hotel results: Queenstown ends summer on occupancy high

Average weekly occupancy across the resort hit 94% in February, according to STR.

Queenstown Airport internationals 27% above pre-Covid in Feb

Queenstown Airport saw 211,941 passenger movements in February, up 6.9% on the same month in 2019.

Auckland Airport internationals close in on peak

Passenger movements at Auckland Airport totalled close to 1.6 million in February 2024, a recovery of 91.4% from the same month in pre-Covid 2019.

Majority of Kiwis engage with the arts – study

A cultural participation survey conducted for Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage has found that 97% of Kiwis participate in at least one or more activities relating to the arts.

Hospo spend rises to $1.3bn in Feb – Stats NZ

Consumer spending in hospitality was $1.27bn in February, according to Stats NZ electronic card transaction data for the month.

APAC air travel demand up 45% – IATA

Air travel demand across Asia Pacific rose 45.4% in January 2024, compared to the same month last year, according to the International Air Transportation Association.

TDLG backs $5m investment in tourism insight, MBIE launches search for suppliers

The Tourism Data Leadership Group welcomes the government’s commitment to invest in a range of new tourism data to support the sector.

Weekly hotel results: Wellington occupancy nears 90%

The capital’s hotels enjoyed a good February with average weekly occupancy rising to nearly 88%.

TBOP launches data insights dashboard

Tourism Bay of Plenty has launched a new Destination Insights Dashboard providing data on key aspects of the region’s visitor economy.

IVS: Internationals spend $10bn in 2023

The recovery in visitor spend continues although it lags that of visitor numbers due partly to more VFR and Australians.

IATA: 2023 one of safest years for aviation

The International Airline Transport Authority says 2023 was one of the safest years for flying.

Queenstown Lakes residents want tourism to pay for impacts – survey

The impacts on sustainability and infrastructure are among Queenstown Lakes residents’ top concerns when it comes to tourism, according to a new survey.

29 Apr 2024   AOV / Te Aka Treehouse

An operator’s view: building in the branches with te aka treehouse, 29 apr 2024   airbnb / rotoruanz, rotoruanz ceo: short-term accom rate hike about fairness, supporting tourism, 29 apr 2024   doc / tracks & trails, doc closing popular northland tracks as cyclone gabrielle repairs continue, 29 apr 2024   roundup, monday 29 april, 26 apr 2024   on the job / people, on the job: thl taps kate meldrum to lead north america, barke leaving lwt… and more, 26 apr 2024   m&c, m&c revives 4-star whangarei hotel with $2.2m land purchase.

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Tags: tourism

9 datasets found

Monthly regional tourism estimates (mrte), the new zealand tourism dashboard, tourism and the economy, monthly regional tourism estimates (mrtes), international visitor survey (ivs), new zealand tourism forecasts, international travel, cruise ship traveller and expenditure statistics, international visitor arrivals to new zealand.

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Tourism data shows determination of sector

New tourism data out today shows the continued importance of tourism to the New Zealand economy as tourism steps up to become our second-biggest export earner, Tourism Minister Matt Doocey says.

“The Tourism Satellite Account shows how strongly tourism rebounded post-pandemic with total tourism expenditure in New Zealand of $37.7b for the year ending March 2023, an increase of $10.7b from the previous year.

“The data shows after the borders fully reopened New Zealand began to see a normalising of tourism flows with a greater mix of international visitors returning in droves along with strong spend increases in hospitality services and visitor experiences.

“The results show how important international connectivity is to New Zealand. This data demonstrated the importance of tourism to main centres and regions, our businesses and our economy as a whole.” 

Other key figures from the Tourism Satellite Account show:

• Overseas visitor expenditure increased by $8.9b to $10.8b 
• Domestic tourism expenditure increased 7.2 per cent to $26.9b
• Total number of people employed in the tourism industry increased by 49.2 per cent to 318 000 people 
• Tourism generated a direct contribution to GDP of $13.3b, or 3.7 per cent of GDP

“These results clearly show the resilience of tourism which is owed to the determination and grit of tourism businesses across New Zealand who got through the pandemic and geared up ready to meet visitors with open arms,” Mr Doocey says.

“Most regions rely on tourism and hospitality, which creates jobs and opportunities for New Zealanders. My message to tourism and hospitality operators around the country is that our government will continue to support them to grow.”

Data releases

Tourism recovery dashboard, 10 november 2023, statsnz + marketview + sabre.

The Tourism Recovery Dashboard tracks the border reopening and its effect on the recovery of the tourism sector from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is updated weekly with StatsNZ provisional border crossing and visitor arrival data, Sabre flight capacity, Marketview international electronic card spend, and Immigration New Zealand visa approval and arrival figures for the Working Holiday Scheme visa.

Border crossing data measures all crossings in and out of New Zealand every day. These data do not incorporate arrival card information so no breakdown of traveller type (e.g. overseas visitor, New Zealand resident) is available. Border arrivals by country show the country of the last overseas port where the passenger boarded before arriving in New Zealand, not their country of usual residence or nationality. Arrivals from the Pacific Islands are largely attributed to critical and essential workers rather than tourists.

International arrival data measures the arrivals of short-term overseas visitors arriving from major international tourism markets, as well as outbound NZ residents returning to NZ. These data come from arrival cards filled out by everyone that crosses the border, which allows us to break down figures by purpose of travel and length of stay.

International flight capacity data has been removed.

International electronic card spend indicates change in spend patterns in the economy, and in particular, cards from overseas financial institutions that transact on the Worldline (formerly Paymark) network. Transactions outside the Worldline network (e.g. cash, online spend) are not included. See the Consumer Spend Dashboard to better understand the limitations of this dataset.

Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) visa data from Immigration New Zealand tracks the number of approvals of those that applied for a WHS visa, and how many WHS visa holders first arrive in New Zealand each month. WHS Special Direction approvals were granted automatically for WHS visa holders who were offshore when their visas expired during the COVID-19 pandemic. Repeat visitors and visa extensions are not included.

Related resources from the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre:

Related charts from the sustainable tourism explorer:.

Cricket: Blackcaps squad announced for Twenty20 international World Cup

Kane Williamson will lead an experienced group of Blackcaps to the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and US in June.

On Monday, NZ Cricket announced a 15-strong squad to contest the trophy, with Williamson returning to lead the team in his sixth appearance at the tournament.

The skipper is part of returning cavalry of first-choice players who missed the recent drawn series in Pakistan primarily due to Indian Premier League commitments. Michael Bracewell, Jimmy Neesham, and Mark Chapman are the only players from that tour to earn selection.

Seamer Trent Boult is back in the fold for his first international outing since the T20 series against Australia in February, selected for his fifth World Cup. 

Fellow veteran seamer Tim Southee is the most experienced of the squad for his seventh World Cup appearance. Currently the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket, Southee missed the series in Pakistan to prioritise his workload.

Quick Matt Henry and batting prodigy Rachin Ravindra are the only two players in the squad who will make their T20 World Cup debut. 

"Matt has worked exceptionally hard on his skills across the phases of a T20 game to come back into selection consideration," said coach Gary Stead.

"Rachin has made every post a winner in the past 12 months and it was exciting to see him continue that trajectory over the summer in the T20 format against Australia."

Among the notable absentees are bowlers Adam Milne and Kyle Jamieson. Milne was ruled out following surgery to repair an ankle injury, while Jamieson is also unavailable as he continues to rehabilitate his back injury.   

More from Newshub

Bowler Ben Sears has been named as a travelling reserve.

Stead is confident he's struck the ideal balance with the squad.

"I'd like to congratulate everyone named today," Stead added. "It's a special time representing your country at a world tournament.

"We expect the venues in the West Indies to offer quite varied conditions and feel we've selected a squad with the scope to adapt to those conditions."

Stead will lead a support staff group featuring batting coach Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram as bowling coach, while James Foster will act as assistant coach for the group with a focus on fielding. 

The Blackcaps will depart for the Caribbean on May 23 before their opening match of the tournament against Afghanistan in Guyana on June 8.

Blackcaps T20 World Cup squad: Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Ben Sears - Travelling Reserve

As tourists move in, Italians are squeezed out on holiday island of Capri

By Crispian Balmer

CAPRI, Italy (Reuters) - Famed for its blue seas, breathtaking views and cove-studded coastline, the Mediterranean island of Capri has been a tourist haven since the early years of the Roman empire.

Unlike in the imperial heyday, when emperors made it their exclusive playground, Capri now attracts visitors from around the world, clogging its narrow alleys, packing the piazzas and blocking the beaches during the hot summer months.

As many as 16,000 tourists a day pour onto the rocky isle in peak season, outnumbering the 12,900 residents. Most are day trippers, but increasing numbers stay the night as ever more homes are given over to holiday lets, bringing its own problems.

"Capri is becoming a dormitory for tourists," said Teodorico Boniello, head of the local consumers' association. "There are more people coming than we can cope with and families can't set down roots because they can't afford to stay."

Capri is a microcosm of many European holiday hotspots. Locals depend on visitors for their livelihoods, but the advent of mass tourism risks turning their picture-perfect beauty spots into blobs of shuffling humanity.

Some Italian towns and islands are starting to push back, albeit gently.

Venice last week became the first city in the world to introduce an entrance fee for visitors in peak periods, Florence has banned new holiday lets in the city centre and the Cinque Terre park on the Italian Riviera started charging 15 euros for access to a popular coastal footpath to tackle overcrowding.

Capri has doubled its own visitors' fee from 2.5 euros to 5 euros, which outsiders pay when they catch a ferry from nearby Naples or Sorrento from April through to October.

"We are looking to persuade more people to visit during winter," Capri Mayor Marino Lembo told Reuters, sitting in his office with the smog of Naples hanging far in the distance.

But such a fee looks unlikely to dissuade tourists from travelling to an island which has more than four million tagged photos on Instagram, drawing in an endless flow of visitors eager to add the same views to their social media pages.

Moreover, locals say it will do nothing to help ease the housing crisis, which forces many essential workers, including teachers and medics, to live on the mainland.

EARLY STARTS

Antonio De Chiara, 22, wakes up every morning at 5.20 a.m. in his hometown near Naples in order to be sure to catch the 7.00 a.m. ferry, which takes 50 minutes to reach Capri. Around 400 other commuters join him on the ride across the bay.

Barely out of Naples, those on a tight schedule start queuing in the aisles to ensure they are first off the boat to grab a seat on one of a handful of small buses that head up the hill to town. Stragglers risk a lengthy wait.

"It would be lovely to live in Capri, but it is very difficult. Even if I could find a place, the rent would take up all my salary," said De Chiara, who recently got a job as a child therapist on the island.

Stefano Busiello, 54, teaches maths in a Capri high school but lives in Naples and has commuted back and forth for 20 years. "I have never even tried to find a house here. I could never afford one and things are getting harder."

Only 20% of staff in his school actually live on Capri, he said, with everyone else arriving on the ferries -- a daily grind that means most of his colleagues stay no more than two or three years before seeking a transfer to mainland schools.

Roberto Faravelli, who runs a Bed and Breakfast near the port, says people like himself might be willing to rent their properties to workers if the region offered incentives to close the gap on lucrative holiday lets.

"The government needs to encourage homeowners to offer long-term rents. What we lack is anyone trying to resolve these problems," he said.

But mayor Lembo did not expect the authorities to intervene. "It is unfortunate, but this is the market economy at work."

POST-COVID SURGE

Vacation rental platform Airbnb lists more than 500 properties on Capri against around 110 in 2016. This is just the tip of the iceberg, with local families renting out their properties during the summer months on unregulated portals.

"This short-term rental market is chaotic. There are no controls," said Lembo.

Despite obvious resentment over the lack of viable housing, Capri has not yet witnessed the sort of protests seen elsewhere -- such as Spain's Canary Islands, where thousands took to the streets this month to demand limits on tourist arrivals.

The end of the COVID pandemic has seen tourism surge across Europe as global travellers seek to make up for lost time.

Italy had near record overnight stays in 2023, according to data collated by the Florence centre of tourism studies, and was the 5th most visited country in the world in 2023, with tourists drawn to its quaint villages and culture-rich cities.

But none were built for mass travel.

In the morning during high season, a fleet of ferries disgorge up to 5,000 visitors into Capri's tiny port in just two hours. Everyone wants to head up to the town of Capri and the smaller Anacapri, but the buses can only carry 30 people at a time and the funicular 50.

"You can easily wait two or even three hours to get up the hill in summer. The quays get packed. Noone can move," said Boniello, flicking through videos on his phone of people crammed one against the other.

Lembo acknowledges the problems, but denies tourism is ruining an island his ancestors have lived on for centuries. "I don't agree with nostalgics who say Capri was more beautiful 100 years ago. There was misery and poverty back then. Now there is wealth, and that is thanks to tourism."

($1 = 0.9381 euros)

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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Vacationing at these destinations? You will pay tourist taxes, fees

There are a slew of places with tourist taxes or fees.

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Travelers may encounter a tourist tax or fee depending on their destination.

That additional travel cost could come up if a person visits one of the slew of places around the world that have such charges. Factors that spurred the taxes can vary, ranging from climate change to overtourism, according to reports.

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Five locales with tourist taxes or fees include:

Venice, Italy

Piazza San Marco square view from the Giudecca Canal, Venice, Veneto, Italy. (Photo by: Mauro Flamini/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) (Mauro Flamini/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The roughly $5.35 daily tourist access fee for Venice, home to the Rialto Bridge, Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, launched as a pilot on Thursday after it received the go-ahead from city officials in mid-September. It targets day-trippers coming into the city between 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is required on specific dates in April, May, June and July during the test period.

Mount Fuji and the Shinjuku skyline seen from an observation deck in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. Japan's industrial output in November is scheduled to be released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on Dec. 28. Photographer: A (Akio Kon/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

International tourists can face an "International Tourist Tax" while exiting Japan, per the Japanese National Tax Agency . It amounts to about $6.30 per departure and must be paid by those taking planes or boats to do so.

Barcelona, Spain

BARCELONA, SPAIN - 2023/12/11: View of the Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world which has been under construction for 144 years, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its completion is estimated to be in 2026. (Pho (Xavi Lopez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

While the city’s nightly tax for travelers staying at tourist accommodations has existed for quite some time, it went up at the beginning of the month, becoming about $3.47. It is capped at seven nights. Catalonia, the region where Barcelona is located, also has a graduated tourist tax that’s size is determined by one’s accommodation, according to The Points Guy.

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This photograph taken on January 10, 2024, shows a a residential area (L) on the banks of the Wang Chuu River also known as Raidak River flowing through Bhutan's capital Thimphu. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP) (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Imag (MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Bhutan, nestled in the Himalayas in Asia, asks most tourists to hand over nightly Sustainable Development Fees of $100 for adults and $50 for ages 6-12. It charges a differently-priced fee from those coming from India. The money goes toward "various projects that create long-term, sustainable opportunities for the Bhutanese people," the country’s department of tourism website said. 

New Zealand

Buildings in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. New Zealand is scheduled gross domestic product (GDP) figures on Sept. 15. Photographer: Fiona Goodall/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Fiona Goodall/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

New Zealand’s tourist tax, called the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, costs $35. Tourists encounter it during the visa application process. The country requires it for "most people entering New Zealand on a temporary basis" such as vacation and certain student and short-term work visas, according to the government. 

Tourism a boon for economy

Travel and tourism provides major benefits to local economies and the global economy alike.

Countries around the world will see travel and tourism produce $11.1 trillion in 2024, according to a report recently released by the World Travel & Tourism Council.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM TO BREAK RECORDS, BRING OVER $11 TRILLION IN 2024: REPORT

Part of that will include spending by international travelers. They will reportedly contribute $1.89 trillion, according to the WTTC.

• Tourism Data Leadership Group
• The Tourism Information and Data Hui
• 2018 Tourism Data Domain Plan
• Tourism data sources diagram
• Data release calendar
• Quarterly Tourism Report
• Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre

Monthly unique regional population estimates (MURPEs)

Tourism electronic card transactions (tects), accommodation data programme (adp), international visitor survey (ivs), tourism and the economy, international travel, tourism employment earnings and filled jobs, cruise data, monthly regional tourism estimates (mrtes, 2016-2020), business events research programme (2009-2019), domestic travel survey 1999–2012.

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Tourism data releases

This section includes the Tourism Electronic Card Transactions (TECTs), Accommodation Data Programme (ADP), International Visitor Survey (IVS), Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), and data on international travel and cruise visitor spending in New Zealand.

In this section

MBIE and Data Ventures have worked together to produce estimates for monthly unique local and visitor populations in each RTO in New Zealand.

The TECTs were an interim replacement to the Monthly Regional tourism Estimates (MRTEs, 2016 to 2020 series) to understand toursim spend activity in New Zealand.

• TECT data download

The Accommodation Data Programme (ADP) is a 'by industry for industry' research programme providing information about short-term accommodation activity at national, regional, and council levels. It estimates the guest nights, occupancy rates and other measures relating to the accommodation industry.

• Accommodation Survey (July 1996-September 2019)

The International Visitor Survey (IVS) measures the expenditure, characteristics and behaviours of international visitors to New Zealand.

• International Visitor Survey data release materials
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• IVS data available from Stats NZ
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The Tourism Satellite Account report presents information on tourism's contribution to the New Zealand economy in terms of expenditure and employment.

See Stats NZ's website for information about New Zealand's inbound and outbound travel.

See Stats NZ's website for information about employment in select tourism industries by Regional Tourism Organisations (RTO). The indicators that have been developed are: • filled jobs by select tourism industries • employment earnings by select tourism industries

Stats NZ — supported jointly by MBIE, the NZ Cruise Association and Customs NZ — produces annual estimates of cruise ship travellers and spending, including passengers and crew, by region and port. You can find these on the Stats NZ's website.

The Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTEs) provide an estimate of regional monthly expenditure on tourism from both international and domestic consumers.

• October 2020 Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTEs)
• Revisions and improvements
• Regional Tourism Estimates
• Regional Tourism Indicators (RTIs)
• Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates (MRTEs)

Data from the Business Events Research Programme, gathered via the Business Events Activity Survey and Business Event Delegate Survey.

• Business Events Activity Survey (2009-2019)
• Business Events Delegate Survey (2009-2019)

The Domestic Travel Survey (DTS) surveyed about 15,000 households per year from 1999 to 2012, and was used to estimate the characteristics of New Zealanders’ domestic tourism.

• Methodology
• Data reliability
• Definitions and classifications
• Revised Domestic Travel Survey data series

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• tnz-factsheet Germany November 2021
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• tnz-factsheet Japan November 2021
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Active Considerer market

• tnz-factsheet India November 2021
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• tnz-factsheet Singapore September 2021
• tnz-factsheet Singapore April 2022
• tnz-factsheet South Korea 2021
• tnz-factsheet South Korea June 2022
• tnz-factsheet Canada October 2022
• tnz-factsheet India November 2022
• tnz-factsheet Singapore October 2022
• tnz-factsheet South Korea November 2022
• tnz-factsheet North America March 2023
• tnz-factsheet Asia emerging markets March 2023
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• tnz-factsheet Australia March 2023
• tnz-factsheet Europe March 2023

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