International Visitor Survey (IVS)
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) measures the expenditure, characteristics and behaviours of international visitors to New Zealand.
On this page
Update March 2023
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) recommenced in July 2022 after a break of 2 years. This release contains results for Quarter 4 of 2022 (October to December).
We advise caution when using and interpreting IVS quarterly-level results. The total sample size for Q4 is higher than for Q3, as visitor numbers increased for the quarter; however, quarterly level statistics have a higher margin of error than annual level statistics. More information on data quality, including sample sizes, response rates, and margins of error can be found on the Survey quality page.
Top-line results for Quarter 4 2022 (October to December) can be found on the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre (TEIC).
Update December 2022
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) re-commenced in July 2022 after a break of 2 years. This release contains results for Quarter 3 2022 (July to September).
We advise caution when using and interpreting IVS quarterly level results. The smaller number of visitors to New Zealand since the border reopening means that the sample size for Q3 2022 is lower than usual due to the high rates of non-qualifiers in the airports. The quarterly level statistics will also have a higher margin of error than annual level statistics due to the lower sample size. More information on data quality, including sample sizes, response rates and margin of errors can be found on the Survey quality page.
Top-line results for Quarter 3 2022 (July to September) can be found on the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre (TEIC). Micro data will be published at 11am on 9 December and will be provided on the IVS data download page.
Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre(external link)
Micro data on the IVS data download page
More information on modifications made to the survey questionnaire and methodology, due to COVID-19, can be found on the methodology pages.
Update November 2022
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) re-commenced in July 2022 after a break of 2 years. MBIE will publish data for the September quarter (Q3) on 2 December 2022. Topline information will be published on the Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre (TEIC), and microdata will be published on MBIE’s website. Stats NZ will also publish its December International trade release, which uses IVS data, on the same date.
Tourism Evidence and Insights Centre(external link)
International Visitor Survey data download
Planning for the relaunch of the IVS began in 2021. Modifications were made to the survey questionnaire and methodology, due to changes in travel patterns following the pandemic, and the changing needs of key users of the IVS. The break in the historical series, and the lower number of visitors to New Zealand compared with pre-pandemic levels, will also result in some changes to published outputs for the September quarter from what was previously published.
The lower number of visitors means that the sample size for Q3 2022 is lower than usual due to the high rates of non-qualifiers in the airports. The quarterly level statistics will also have a higher margin of error than annual level statistics due to the lower sample size. Therefore, we advise more caution when using and interpreting quarterly level results, especially for Q3 2022. More information on data quality, including sample sizes, response rates and margin of errors will be published by MBIE on 2 December 2022.
More information is provided in the Methodology Paper
International travel remains a highly dynamic environment due to ongoing changes to global travel regulations, flight schedules, and consumer travel preferences. MBIE and Stats NZ are continuously monitoring this fluid situation and the implications any changes may have on the IVS.
In this section
International Visitor Survey data release materials
On this page, we provide a link to the new data visualisations for the December 2022 quarter and outline reasons for changes to 2022 quarters. Summaries of previous releases are also provided.
IVS survey quality
This page contains key survey quality metrics for the International Visitor Survey (IVS).
IVS analysis and research
Articles providing a deeper analysis of the International Visitor Survey (IVS) data.
IVS methodology
Information about the International Visitor Survey (IVS) methodology, including its purpose, quality targets, population, sampling structure and collection, data processing, analysis and outputs.
IVS questionnaire and brochures
Information about the International Visitor Survey (IVS), including links to the PDF version of the questionnaire and brochures.
IVS classifications and definitions
A list of International Visitor Survey (IVS) terms and classifications, to assist with interpreting the data.
IVS data available from Stats NZ
This page provides links to some of the detailed International Visitor Survey data that Stats NZ host through its NZ.Stat tool. Updated IVS data via the nz.stat portal is planned for late 2023.
Background and revisions to the IVS
When the International Visitor Survey (IVS) started, and how it has developed since, including a major update in 2013.
IVS data download
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting tourism research, this page provides the International Visitor Survey (IVS) microdata.
Data release calendar
Check upcoming scheduled tourism survey releases on our Data release calendar.