ZB ZB
Sport
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

NZ's benefitting from 'global tailwinds' as luxury tourism spend rises

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 3 Jun 2026, 11:37am
Photo / Getty
Photo / Getty

NZ's benefitting from 'global tailwinds' as luxury tourism spend rises

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 3 Jun 2026, 11:37am

Our luxury tourism market is booming. 

Data from Grand View Research estimates our luxury travel market generated nearly $8 billion last year and that could more than double by 2033. 

Travel agency Luxury Escapes says bookings to New Zealand are up nearly 40% year-on-year and it's seen an increase of about 20% for experience-based travel, like winery tours or wellness retreats. 

Hotel Council Aotearoa Strategic Director James Doolan told Francesca Rudkin that New Zealand is benefiting from a lot of global tailwinds in tourism and travel. 

He says as people get wealthier and reach a certain basic level of security, they want to travel and experience the rest of the world. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you