Small towns around NZ welcome independent Chinese tourists

Many hospitality business owners in small towns around NZ have noticed an increase in independent Chinese tourists recently.

Independent Chinese tourists are contributing to a spending boom in some regional New Zealand towns, Stuff.co.nz recently reported.

According to Stuff’s report, many hospitality business owners have noticed an increase in independent Chinese tourists over recent months. By ‘independent’, they mean Chinese tourists who are organising their own trips and itineraries – as opposed to tourists who are travelling on a pre-organised coach tour.

When people travel independently, they are more likely to spend longer in small towns, and therefore spend more money.

As ASB Bank senior regional economist Nathan Penny told Stuff, “the tourism boom is sharing the love around the regions now”.

Chinese tourism poised for more growth

This Chinese tourism boom is likely to continue over the coming years, especially since New Zealand and China have teamed together to designate 2019 as the ‘China-New Zealand Year of Tourism’.

“The publicity around the Year of Tourism is likely to increase interest in New Zealand as a holiday destination among the Chinese,” Tourism New Zealand’s acting chief executive, Brighid Kelly, said in a press release last month.

“China is our second biggest tourism market and still growing. More than 400,000 Chinese visit each year, creating numerous opportunities for the industry,” Ms Kelly added.

Good news for tourism graduates in regional New Zealand

The growth of New Zealand’s regional tourism industry will likely come as good news for tourism graduates living in small towns.

When tourists go off the beaten track and explore New Zealand’s regional gems, they inject money into local businesses and help local economies thrive.

If you live in regional New Zealand, why not make the most of the tourism boom by embarking on a career in airline, travel or tourism?

ITC’s Study From Home courses are open for enrolment now – a great opportunity for you to gain a tourism qualification from wherever you live in New Zealand. Get in touch today to learn more about our exciting distance learning qualifications.