In this post-COVID recovery, domestic demand is playing a crucial role: local guests represented 55% of all Airbnb stays, a rise of more than 10 percentage points compared to 2019, when they accounted for 43%.
When it comes to international visitors, 55% came from the Asia-Pacific region, with Australia, China, and Singapore leading the way. Australia was the top foreign source market, accounting for 30% of bookings, followed by the United States at 17%.
Airbnb travelers stayed for an average of three nights and spent about NZ $ 380 per day outside of accommodation, including restaurants, shopping, entertainment, groceries, and transport. Of every NZ $ 100 spent at a destination, NZ $ 32 went to restaurants, NZ $ 19 to groceries, and NZ $ 17 each to shopping and arts and entertainment, while NZ $ 16 was spent on transport.
One significant shift in travel trends is that 40.6% of Airbnb’s gross booking value came from non-urban areas, compared to 37.2% in 2019. This move toward destinations outside major cities has remained strong after the pandemic.
Alberto James Lambert, Director of Economic Consulting for Asia at Oxford Economics, highlighted that Airbnb has shaped a new tourism dynamic in New Zealand: “By connecting travelers with unique accommodation in less well-known destinations, the platform has facilitated a more equitable spread of tourism across the country, boosting local employment and small businesses while supporting livelihoods in communities beyond the big cities.”
Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, expressed satisfaction at seeing the platform help local businesses thrive and create jobs in communities that previously received fewer visitors. She underlined the idea that “every Airbnb door opens opportunities beyond accommodation, turning those spaces into platforms of community economic growth.”
Greg Thomas, Interim CEO of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, stressed Airbnb’s essential role in linking travelers with authentic New Zealand experiences and opening doors across diverse communities. This not only strengthens small businesses and local jobs but also contributes to a tourism industry that is resilient and welcoming across Aotearoa.
Overall, the study underscores that Airbnb is far more than just an accommodation platform: it is a powerful catalyst for regional economic development, extending the benefits of tourism beyond urban areas, diversifying income sources, and securing jobs across multiple sectors. Its contribution to New Zealand’s GDP and labor market highlights how digital innovation can integrate with local communities to create tangible value and distribute it equitably nationwide.
