Government’s Tourism Snapshot

The Minister of Tourism’s vision is for New Zealand-Aotearoa to be rated one of the top three aspirational destinations in the world by the most discerning travellers.

2 people standing on a balcony overlooking a vineyard.

Cromwell, Otago

Photo: Miles Holden

New Zealand-Aotearoa is a special place and visitors contribute significantly to our country. Tourism is a vital part of the Government’s economic strategy and creates inclusive growth by distributing economic opportunities and bringing social benefits across our regions, cities and communities.

The Tourism Snapshot is a visual portfolio that showcases the Government’s strategic priorities to support the tourism sector’s recovery post-COVID-19. Tourism’s recovery phase provides the opportunity for the sector to transition to a regenerative, lower carbon, higher skill, and higher wage industry. A regenerative tourism model gives back to people and places more than it takes and actively enriches communities.

The Government’s Tourism Snapshot highlights some of the current projects underway to transition towards a regenerative tourism model, which include:

  • transforming the foundations of the tourism system
  • destination brand building and improving the visitor experience
  • supporting communities to manage tourism, and
  • working in partnership with others.

This is the web version of the Government's Tourism Snapshot.

Download the PDF:

Government's Tourism Snapshot [PDF, 2 MB]

In this section

Foreword from the Minister of Tourism

My vision for tourism is for New Zealand-Aotearoa to be rated one of the top three aspirational tourism destinations in the world by the most discerning travellers.

The outlook for New Zealand-Aotearoa tourism

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism was one of our largest and fastest growing sectors.

Achieving the vision for tourism

Achieving the Government’s vision requires fundamental change.

Transitioning to a regenerative tourism model

Central to the Government’s vision for tourism, is the goal of transitioning to a regenerative tourism model.

Transforming the foundations of the tourism system

Becoming one of the most aspirational travel destinations and transitioning to a regenerative model requires fundamental change to the foundations of our tourism system.

Destination brand building and improving the visitor experience

To ensure the sustainability of the tourism sector, we need to develop and promote high-quality, authentic visitor experiences that draw on manaakitanga, our unique visitor proposition of our people and our place and tell our stories in way that engages and enlightens.

Supporting communities to manage tourism

The rapid growth in tourism pre-COVID-19 was creating flow-on impacts in our communities.

Working in partnership with others

To achieve the vision for tourism and transition the sector to a more regenerative model where our unique stories can be brought to life, we need to build more meaningful partnerships.