Destination Queenstown's Monthly Data Snapshot is available at the end of each month. It provides members with access to topline information regarding the prior month's performance, based on the datasets available. Insights have been gathered from the Visitor Insights Dashboard on the Member Hub. The Data and Insights section of the hub provides members with one convenient location for publicly available tourism data, purchased data, DQ-commissioned research, and the Forward Outlook.

In March 2025, visitor expenditure in the Queenstown region totalled $79 million, a 5% decrease compared to the same period last year. This was largely driven by a 10% decline in domestic spending. The region recorded just over 711,100 cumulative visitor days, with international visitor days accounting for 55% and domestic visitor days accounting for 45%. Commercial accommodation providers hosted 336,300 guest nights, a 2% decrease compared to the same month last year. Despite the slight decline, average occupancy remained high at 84%. The downturns in March 2025, particularly in the domestic market, can likely be attributed to Easter falling in late March in 2024, compared to late April 2025.

The average Net Promoter Score (NPS) over the past three months has fallen to 62. The 12 month rolling NPS average remains strong at 70. However, the NPS will be monitored closely in the coming quarters to determine whether this recent decline indicates a sustained trend.

The Visitor Experience Survey is a survey of visitors to the Queenstown Lakes region. The results are shared quarterly and outline a variety of experience aspects including; visitor motivations, connection with people and place, activities/attractions, net promoter score and overall visitor experience satisfaction. The Visitor Experience Survey is Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism's collaborative research initiative facilitated by tourism research experts Angus & Associates.

Source: Queenstown Visitor Experience Survey, Destination Queenstown facilitated by Angus & Associates.
Sample size = 970. Last 12 months refers to 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025, last 3 months refers to 1 January - 31 March 2025. 

Visitor expenditure refers to money spent on tourism-related activities while in Queenstown. DQ uses Marketview visitor spend figures as our expenditure measure. Marketview visitor expenditure is based on visitor in-person card transactions and does not include estimates for cash, online transactions and pre-bookings. Note: this source is not adjusted to account for inflation.

Source: Worldline/Marketview Tourism Data. 1 - 31 March 2025. vs prior year - percentage change vs same month 2024.

Source: Worldline/Marketview Tourism Data. 1 January 2019 - 31 March 2025. 

Source: Worldline/Marketview Tourism Data. 1 - 31 March 2025. 

Source: Worldline/Marketview Tourism Data. 1 - 31 March 2025.

The monthly cumulative visitor estimates represent the total number of daily visitors counted over a month, regardless of whether visitors stay for multiple days. For example, if someone visits for three days, they are counted three times in the cumulative estimate. Note: Vistr are currently investigating issues that may be leading to an understatement of international visitor counts in recent data (July - November 2024) which could be leading to an exaggerated vs prior year declines. The absolute international visitor counts and vs prior year metrics should be interpreted with caution. 

Source: Vistr Visitor Volume Estimates. 1- 31 March 2025. vs prior year - percentage change vs same month 2024.

Source: Vistr Visitor Volume Estimates. 1 January 2022 -  31 March 2025.

The number of passengers that arrived through Queenstown Airport

Source: Queenstown Airport Passenger History. 1 - 31 March 2025. vs prior year: percentage change vs same month 2025.

Source: Queenstown Airport Passenger History. 1 January 2019 - 31 March 2025.

The total guest nights and occupancy rates for commercial accommodation in the Queenstown region gathered from properties participating in the Accommodation Data Programme.

Source: Accommodation Data Programme. 1 - 31 March 2025. vs prior year: percentage change vs same month 2024.

Source: CAM (Jan - Sept 2019), Accommodation Data Programme (June 2020 onwards). 1 January 2019 - 31 March 2025.

Source: Accommodation Data Programme. 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2025.

Non commercial accommodation data is drawn from AirDNA. It provides insights into the total number of property nights in non-commercial/ short term rental accommodation providers. Note: property listing nights represent the number of properties/ listings booked, not the number of beds or guest nights.

Source: AirDNA. 1 - 31 March 2025. vs prior year: percentage change vs same month 2024.

Source: AirDNA. 1 May 2022 - 31 March 2025.