Indonesia Joins Japan, China, And India As New Zealand’s Top Travel Destinations Amid Economic Challenges

Published on August 21, 2025

New Zealanders are proving their committedness to overseas travel, moreover arsenic nan ongoing financial situation continues to put unit connected family budgets. Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) reports that May 2025 saw nan highest number of Kiwis returning from world trips since earlier nan pandemic, surpassing pre-COVID levels.

Despite nan economical challenges faced by galore households, including rising costs for mundane essentials, recreation remains a captious portion of New Zealanders’ lifestyle. Many holidaymakers are focused connected compensating for mislaid clip owed to recreation restrictions during nan pandemic.

Surging Interest successful Asian Destinations

Among nan astir notable recreation trends is simply a surge successful short-term trips to Asia. New Zealanders’ recreation to Asia successful nan twelvemonth to June 2025 accrued by 20%, compared to nan erstwhile year. In total, 316,100 Kiwis traveled to nan region, marking an bonzer 34% summation successful conscionable 12 months.

Key destinations driving this surge see Indonesia, China, Japan, and India, pinch each state experiencing important maturation successful visitors from New Zealand. Bali, Indonesia, successful particular, has seen a notable emergence successful Kiwis choosing it arsenic their vacation destination. This is mostly attributed to nan accessibility provided by Air New Zealand’s nonstop flights to Denpasar, making nan tropical destination an easier and much affordable getaway.

Bali: A Favourite for Kiwis Seeking Affordable Luxury

Bali has quickly go a go-to vacation destination for New Zealanders, particularly owed to nan convenience of nonstop flights and affordability erstwhile there. The island’s unsocial blend of culture, stunning landscapes, and a wide scope of accommodation options from luxury resorts to budget-friendly choices continues to pull a increasing number of visitors from New Zealand.

Moreover, nan easiness of access, paired pinch an expanding number of formation options, has made Bali much appealing to travellers crossed each property groups. For those looking to flight nan chilly upwind successful New Zealand, Bali’s lukewarm ambiance offers a cleanable contrast, particularly for those successful cities for illustration Christchurch, which has knowledgeable a peculiarly acold and rainy winter.

Japan Experiences Unprecedented Kiwi Interest

Japan has besides witnessed a crisp emergence successful visitant numbers from New Zealand, pinch young travellers being peculiarly attracted to its vibrant taste experiences. The allure of Japan’s rich | history, its stunning blend of ancient traditions and modern entertainment, and its lukewarm hospitality are making it an progressively celebrated destination.

The liking is evident astatine events for illustration recreation expos, wherever New Zealanders are already readying trips for nan adjacent fewer years. The immersive taste experiences—from exploring ancient temples to attending anime festivals—are portion of what makes Japan an enticing destination for Kiwis, who are seeking much than conscionable a holiday, but a afloat sensory adventure.

European Travel: Confidence successful Longer Journeys

While destinations successful Asia person seen singular increases, New Zealanders are besides continuing to book longer-term recreation for early years, pinch galore looking astatine destinations crossed Europe. The expertise to book pinch confidence, knowing that long-haul flights are little apt to look cancellations, has led galore Kiwis to scheme extended trips.

Europe continues to beryllium an aspirational destination for New Zealanders, pinch semipermanent bookings already being made for trips successful 2026. Many travellers are choosing to sojourn nan continent for month-long vacations, indicating an accrued level of assurance successful recreation post-pandemic.

Economic Pressures Do Not Deter Travel Plans

While New Zealanders proceed to look precocious surviving costs, including rising lodging prices and inflationary pressures, nan costs of recreation remains an area wherever galore are unwilling to compromise. Travel agencies crossed New Zealand person noted that, contempt concerns complete family budgets, nan desire to research world destinations has not waned.

The willingness to prioritize recreation complete different expenses is rooted successful nan truth that New Zealand is geographically isolated, making world holidays moreover much enticing. Additionally, nan cognition that overseas recreation offers a basal break from New Zealand’s often unpredictable upwind has besides played a domiciled successful maintaining nan beardown request for world trips.

For many, nan dream of exploring caller cultures, enjoying lukewarm weather, and reconnecting pinch loved ones overseas outweighs nan financial constraints that mightiness different impact their choices. The entreaty of celebrated destinations for illustration Bali and Japan offers an flight that is not conscionable astir tourism but a chance to acquisition thing caller and different.

Future of Travel: Continued Interest and New Trends

Looking ahead, nan inclination of world recreation among New Zealanders shows nary signs of slowing. With nan expanding wave of formation bookings to Asia, Europe, and beyond, nan early of New Zealand’s recreation manufacture remains robust. The expanding reachability of once-distant destinations, on pinch much cost-effective options, continues to unfastened up nan world for New Zealand holidaymakers.

As nan cost-of-living situation persists, nan attraction connected world recreation whitethorn displacement to much affordable destinations aliases shorter trips, but nan wanderlust for exploring and escapade will stay astatine nan halfway of Kiwi lifestyle.