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.
September 2025 Insights:
International visitors drive massive visitor growth in Kaikōura
Kaikōura reported standout performance in September, particularly in international markets. Domestic card spend growth was fractionally above the national average, while international card spend recorded the highest growth rate across all South Island RTO regions. Commercial accommodation guest nights leaped +19% YoY, resulting from a +14% YoY increase in guest arrivals and a +4% YoY increase in average stay length. Tourism-related employment increased +3% YoY.
International card spend surges while domestic spending lags
The variation between the fractional increase in total domestic card spend and the domestic guest night leap of (+20%) suggested that either relative average spend had decreased, or there was a lower prevalence of day trip visitation. Conversely, the international card spend standout increase when contrasted with the increase in international guest nights of (+13%) suggested the opposite; an increase in average spend, or a higher prevalence of day trip visitation.
Standout card spend growth reflects similar spend pattern to '24 off-season
Kaikōura reported standout card spend growth in September, reflecting very similar trends in absolute card spend figures to September 2024. When segmenting card spend by product, food and beverage retail grew at a higher rate than food and beverage serving for both domestic and international markets. This growth was not enough to displace serving as the dominant category (relative to total spend) for both markets in September.
Domestic card spend growth above national average, mid-range among similar regions
While domestic card spend growth was fractionally above the national average, it ranked mid-range when compared against similar-sized RTO regions such as Central Otago and the Mackenzie Region.
Kaikōura records top spending growth in South Island
Kaikōura’s international card spend growth was standout, recording the highest rate of growth across all South Island RTO regions.
Accommodation had a strong South Island performance, with guest nights up
Commercial accommodation was buoyant overall for Kaikōura in September, with occupancy up +3%pt. YoY and guest nights leaping by +19% YoY. This result was achieved even after accounting for an increase in available stay units (+6% YoY), which consequently reduced occupancy rates. Guest nights were propelled by guest arrivals (+14% YoY) and bolstered by average stay length (+4% YoY). When segmenting guest nights by domestic (+20% YoY) and international markets (+13% YoY), Kaikōura performed strongest against similar-sized RTO regions for domestic guest nights (Timaru: +6% YoY, Waitaki: +9% YoY, Hurunui: +16% YoY).
Holiday parks drive strong guest night growth in popular destination
Smaller motels and apartments (6-20 units) were the only commercial accommodation type to decline in any driving metric behind guest nights; with average stay length declining by -9% YoY, offsetting guest arrivals (+22% YoY), which resulted in guest night growth of +10% YoY. As the primary accommodation type for guest nights in Kaikōura (51% of guest nights), holiday parks and campgrounds reported an overall guest night increase of +24% YoY, with both domestic (+27% YoY) and international (+13% YoY) markets showing individual growth.
Tourism jobs surge ahead of national average, fueled by services
Tourism-related employment increased by +3% YoY, ahead of the national average (+3% YoY) and neighbouring RTO regions of Hurunui (-3% YoY) and Marlborough (-1% YoY). This was driven by strong growth in employment in two tourism-related industries: accommodation (+9% YoY) and travel and tour services (+17% YoY).