Welcome to the Destination Kaikōura Data Dashboard, providing real-time data & analytics helping stakeholders & local businesses understand the trends and dynamics of tourism in our beautiful region.

 

 

 

 

November 2025 Insights:

 

International market boosts visitor days, card spend, and guest nights

Tourism activity in Destination Kaikōura was buoyant in November, primarily driven by a robust international market. Total visitor days grew +14% YoY, reflecting a +5% YoY rise in domestic visitor days and a +49% YoY jump in international visitor days. Domestic card spend rose +7% YoY, while international card spend increased +6% YoY. Commercial accommodation guest nights rose +4% YoY, with domestic guest nights down -2% YoY and international guest nights up +13% YoY. Tourism-related employment grew by +3% YoY.

 

Day trip surge dominates as international visitor days outpace card spend

The variation between the domestic visitor day growth (+5% YoY) and the domestic guest night decline of -2% YoY suggested a higher prevalence of day trip visitation or a potential move towards short-term rental use. The international visitor day surge of +49% YoY when contrasted with the increase in international guest nights of +13% YoY suggested the same; a significantly higher prevalence of day trip visitation. Regarding visitor yield, the domestic sector showed that visitor days (+5% YoY) and card spend (+7% YoY) grew at similar pace, whereas the international sector suggested average spend had decreased, as visitor days (+49% YoY) grew at a substantially faster rate than card spend (+6% YoY).

 

Surging international visitor days drive tourism despite shorter unique stays

Tourism activity in Destination Kaikoura showed solid performance; total visitor days grew (+14% YoY), with unique visitor numbers also rising (+7% YoY). The domestic market contributed steadily, with visitor days rising (+5% YoY) while unique visitors dipped (-3% YoY). However, the primary driver of visitor day growth (+14% YoY) was the international market, which saw visitor days jump (+49% YoY) and unique visitors climb (+33% YoY). Short-stay international visitation was particularly robust, with visitor days up +54% YoY.

 

Domestic visitation anchored by distiant regional visitor gains

International visitation was defined by exceptional growth from long-haul markets, which significantly repositioned the top four rankings compared to November 2024. The USA & Canada market soared (+78% YoY) to claim the second-largest market share, while the United Kingdom recorded massive gains (+189% YoY). China, Japan & Korea retained the top spot following strong growth (+84% YoY), while the 'Rest of Europe' fell (-13% YoY) to sixth place. Domestic visitation was anchored by Canterbury (+18% YoY) and Marlborough (+27% YoY), while visitation from distant regions like Auckland (-19% YoY) and Wellington (-6% YoY) contracted.

 

Domestic spend prioritises accommodation as international spend shifts from recreation to food and beverage

Card spend in Destination Kaikōura grew in November; domestic spend rose +7% YoY, while international spend increased +6% YoY. A notable shift in domestic behaviour was observed; spend on 'Accommodation' grew +22% YoY, increasing its market share (24% share) compared to November 2024 trends. Conversely, the international market showed signs of shifting priorities; spend on 'Recreation' contracted sharply (-50% YoY), dwindling significantly compared to the prior year. However, international spend on 'Retail F&B' (+18% YoY) and 'Food and Beverage Serving' (+21% YoY) performed strongly, indicating visitors are still spending freely on food and drink.

 

Auckland's surge captures high market share

Domestic card spend increased by +7% YoY in November, a strong result relative to similar-sized South Island RTOs. The region remained heavily reliant on its primary source market, Canterbury (55% share), which grew steadily at +13% YoY. A key market shift occurred among secondary markets; spend from Auckland (+24% YoY) surged to overtake Marlborough (-8% YoY), claiming the second-highest domestic market share spot (10% share). Other markets showed mixed results, with Otago growing +9% YoY while Tasman fell -14% YoY.

 

Strong growth in international card spend driven by one key market

International card spend grew by +6% YoY, driven by the United States, which increased +22% YoY to account for 36% of total international spend. The United Kingdom market softened, declining -11% YoY, while the 'Rest of Europe' remained flat (-1% YoY). Positive growth was recorded from Asian markets, with the 'Rest of Asia' up +14% YoY and China surging +50% YoY, signaling a rebound in visitor value from these markets.

 

International guest arrivals increase occupancy but shorten average stay length

Commercial accommodation in Destination Kaikoura expanded in November; total guest nights rose (+4% YoY), and occupancy edged up (+1%pt. YoY) to 64%. A distinctive trend observed across all accommodation types was a decline in average stay length (-2% YoY) contrasted with a significant increase in guest arrivals (+6% YoY). This pattern appears to be driven by international visitor behavior; while domestic guest nights contracted (-2% YoY), international guest nights grew (+13% YoY), suggesting that the influx of overseas travelers is generating higher turnover with shorter stays. The arrival of the cruise-liner Anthem of the Seas into Lyttelton may contextualise spillover into the region of primarily short-trip visitation.

 

International demand counterbalances domestic drop, lifting guest nights

Segmenting by accommodation type, the trend of shorter stays remained consistent across each category. Holiday parks and campgrounds, the largest provider (47% share), grew guest nights slightly (+1% YoY) as an +11% YoY lift in international nights offset a -3% YoY domestic decline. Larger motels and apartments (20+ units) recorded growth (+3% YoY), bolstered by a sharp surge in international demand (+35% YoY) which counterbalanced a -12% YoY drop in domestic nights.

 

Tourism employment exceeds the national average despite accommodation contraction

Tourism-related employment in Destination Kaikoura grew by +3% YoY in November, outperforming the national average (0% YoY) and matching the growth rate of neighbouring Marlborough (+3% YoY). The region's largest tourism-related industry, accommodation (34% of filled jobs), contracted (-7% YoY), while the second-largest sector, food and beverage services, remained flat (0% YoY). Growth was primarily driven by travel and tour services, which increased (+7% YoY), helping to offset a decline in activity services (-10% YoY).