Tourism breakthrough: July visitors surpass pre-Covid numbers for first time

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WhanganuiAll Manawatū - WhanganuiWhanganuiPalmerston NorthManawatūTararuaHorowhenuaWellingtonAll WellingtonKapitiWairarapaUpper HuttLower HuttNelson & TasmanAll Nelson & TasmanMotuekaNelsonTasmanMarlboroughWest CoastCanterburyAll CanterburyKaikōuraChristchurchAshburtonTimaruOtagoAll OtagoOamaruDunedinBalcluthaAlexandraQueenstownWanakaSouthlandAll SouthlandInvercargillGoreStewart IslandMediaVideoAll VideoNZ news videoHerald NOWBusiness news videoPolitics news videoSport videoWorld news videoLifestyle videoEntertainment videoTravel videoMarkets with MadisonKea Kids newsPodcastsAll PodcastsThe Front PageThe Economy of EverythingThe Prosperity ProjectA Moment in CrimeDesert PiratesNo Such Thing as NormalHeaven's HelplineAsk me AnythingThe Little ThingsCartoonsPhoto galleriesToday's Paper - E-editionsPhoto salesClassifiedsNZME NetworkAdvertise with NZMEOneRoofDriven Car GuideBusinessDeskNewstalk ZBSunliveZMThe HitsCoastRadio HaurakiThe Alternative Commentary CollectiveGoldFlavaiHeart RadioHokonuiRadio WanakaiHeartCountry New ZealandRestaurant HubNZME EventsJohn WeekesSenior Business Reporter·NZ Herald·14 Sep, 2026 02:39 AM5 mins to read‌Join Herald NOW Business with host Garth Bray as he brings you the business news of the day, subject matter expert interviews, along with local and global thought leadersNew Zealand had a July record for overseas visitors and finally surpassed pre-Covid visitor levels for a single month.Hotel Council Aotearoa strategic director James Doolan said the industry would broadly welcome today’s news about visitor numbers.“International visitors spend more on a daily basis than domestic travellers.” He said