Getting Started in Tourism
Photographer: Chris McLennan
(www.cmphoto.co.nz)
Tourism in New Zealand is a rapidly growing, dynamic industry with many opportunities for new players.
Setting up a tourism business seems an attractive proposition—what could be better than making a living from helping people have a good time on holiday?
The reality is that it's hard work getting any tourism business off the ground and then it's more hard work keeping it going.
Want to get into the Tourism Business?
Tourism is the world's biggest and fastest growing industry. In New Zealand, tourism is a hugely significant contributor to our economy—earning 9.9 percent of New Zealand's income (GDP) both directly and indirectly. (Statistics New Zealand. March 2016.)
Tourism includes everything from the traditional holiday to educational travel, visiting friends and relatives, attending a conference, or going to a sports or cultural event. It may be close to home or it may involve travel to the other side of the world. The visitor may be looking for new cultures and new experiences, or simply a place to relax and rest.
The tourism industry is made up of the many and varied businesses catering to visitors including transport, food and beverage, accommodation, tours and activities, entertainment, retail and other services.
For New Zealand, our scenery is the basis of our tourism industry, as it is the draw card for international visitors. The tourism industry benefits from our natural environment and is playing an increasing role in helping to preserve it. Visitors are also increasingly interested in our Māori culture and heritage.
Tourism in New Zealand
Overall, New Zealand tourism is a success story, growing steadily over recent years to the point where it now plays a key role in our economy. Tourism is a major employer, with over 188,136 people working directly employed in tourism, that is over 7.5% of New Zealand's workforce. (Statistics New Zealand. March 2016)
International tourism expenditure increased 17.1 percent ($1.7 billion) to $11.8 billion and contributed 17.4 percent to New Zealand's total exports of goods and services. (Statistics of New Zealand. March 2016.) Domestic tourism (New Zealanders travelling in New Zealand) increased7.4 percent ($1.4 billion) to $20.2 billion. Overall, tourism directly and indirectly contributes 9.9 percent of GDP (New Zealand's income).
| Year to March 2016 |
| - New Zealanders took 21.9 million overnight trips away from home to other parts of New Zealand. |
| - They stayed away for an average of just over three nights. |
| Year to March 2016 |
| - The total number of international visitors was 3.25 million. |
| - The biggest group were Australians (42.0 percent), followed by China (11.6 percent), the USA (7.8 percent), the UK (6.5 percent) and Japan (2.8 percent). |
| - Around half of the visitors (50.8 percent) came here for a holiday, followed by visiting friends and relatives (30.2 percent), business (8.2 percent) and "other" (6.8 percent). |
