New Zealand experiences tourism boom but also fears decline in visitors due to high costs

 Thursday, April 12, 2018 

The tourist boom in the past few years has helped support growth and prosperity in New Zealand. International tourism in New Zealand has become an important earner of foreign exchange, a massive employer and a big contributor to tax revenue.

Tourist numbers have spread beyond hot spots like Queenstown and Tekapo. Places like Dunedin and Oamaru are now significant tourist attractions pulling large numbers of tourists. Hence, visitors are now pivotal for the diversity and prosperity of NZ economy.

However, despite the tourist boom, there are chances of tourism decline. The boom is potentially fragile, and tourist numbers have gone through difficult times before.

Although the tourism numbers are dependent primarily on international visitors, New Zealand’s reputation and place in the international sphere could easily change. While there is growth in visitor satisfaction, costs are a threat. The perceived high cost of food, petrol and accommodation are not yet putting tourists off but they could affect in no time at all.

Sometimes, food and accommodation are expensive, more so than in Europe and even Australia.

Tourism in NZ has been boosted by extra flights, particularly from China and also by fresh links to the United States. But New Zealand’s distance from any place means hefty costs before touring even begins.

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