The new goldrush – independent Chinese tourism
- They are already the highest spending per day market segment.
- They will soon be coming in numbers that will dwarf other market segments.
Lets find out a little more about Chinese tourism to NZ.
Figures quoted on this page are the most recent MBIE statistics unless stated otherwise
Why Chinese tourists?
Value over Volume
equals Higher profits
Currently, 85% of Chinese tourists to NZ travel independently
(i.e. not as part of an organised tour).
Independently travelling Chinese are the highest per-day spending of all tourism sectors.
They are younger, better educated and have higher incomes than pre-Covid Chinese tourists.
Increasingly, they buy their accomodation, hire their rental cars and book their tours online from within NZ.
Chinese tourists not only spend more, but their spending tends to be for higher priced luxury items and clearly defined niche products.
Pre Covid, the growth of Chinese tourism was on an expontenial curve. With the resumption of direct flights from China to Auckland and Christchurch, this will likely resume.
Their spending patterns
Food, restaurants and entertainment tops the bill, with shopping a healthy 8.8%. And no, the restaurants are seldom Chinese as mainland Chinese find the local westernised ‘Chinese’ food very distasteful! With shopping, it tends to be higher value and niche products (health foods, natural foods, supplements or cosmetics).
Rental cars form 11.8% of the spend, a clear indication of the move by Chinese tourists away from organised tours and towards independent travel.
Where they go
Auckland is the primary point of entry, mainly due to the majority of flights headed that way. From there, it’s Rotorua and a general move down the North Island.
In the south, the resumption of direct flights from China to Christchurch has already led to a major jump in tourists, and from here it is the traditional drive south to Tekapo, Mt Cook, Wanaka and Queenstown, then up the coast to Hokitika. Having said that, there is strong growth down the Oamaru Dunedin route.
Percentage of Chinese tourists who visit these areas
Highest per day spenders
The spending tables say it all. Chinese tourist spend more per day than any other sector, followed closely by US visitors. All other sectors (Australians, Eurpoeans and so on), may be more numerous but their per day spend is not even remotely close to visityors from China or the US.
And with a little knowledge, that per day spend can easily be ratcheted up by tthe provision of value added and targeted items, even something as simple as Chinese noodles in the mini bar!
When they visit
Without a doubt, the key travel period for Chinese is always around the Chinese Lunar New Year. In 2026, this starts on February 26 and lasts for a 40 day period. The second key period is the Moon Festival (also called ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’), folllowed by the National Day (‘Golden Week’) in October.
Tourism NZ is actively trying to spread the visit period more evenly throughout the year, and this is likely to succeed due to changing attitudes in China.
Percentage spread of visit per season
Chinese tourism – at a glance
Key dates 2025-2026
Chinese New Year
February 17 – March 3, 2026
Overwhelmingly, the most important holiday time for Chinese, covering 40 days before, during and after the Lunar New Year.
Moon Festival
September 26 – 29, 2026
The traditional Chinese holiday celebration, during which the ‘Moon Cake’ and other speciality goods assume great importance.
National Day
October 1 – 7, 2026
Known as the ‘Golden Week’, the Chinese National Day is a time of travel and tourism and a key date for Chinese to visit NZ.
From Our Founder - Amy Zhou
“Many Chinese visitors to NZ are poorly catered for, yet they form the fastest growing and highest per-day spending sector. I want to change their experience for the better – and help push them into becoming not just the highest per day spenders, but the largest group in numbers as well! ”
Wahying
An integrated system with a single goal:
To boost your profits – fast!
Click on the module boxes to learn more!
Translation
People always read first, that which is in their own language.
Huanying Connect
China invented paper, but is likely to be the first to abandon it.
Social Media
The world’s most connected society – make sense of it here.
Interactive Maps
They won’t come, unless they can find you. Make it easy!
Risk-free Guarantee!
After 3 months if you are unhappy for any reason, we will refund 100% of everything you have paid.
Check out the T’s and C’s here!