New Zealand is one of the UK’s fastest growing core visitor markets says Visit Britain, which also has earlier reported record Kiwi growth in 2024.
NTO representatives have been in market this week, highlighting Kiwi growth and its plans to work with the Kiwi trade to continue the travel momentum. “(New Zealand] was just one of five markets in 2024 that delivered record spend and volume of visitation,” Visit Britain country manager Australia & New Zealand Kristin Angus told Travel Today this week. The average Kiwi length of stay for 2024 was 17 nights, against an all-market average of seven nights, with 75% of those stays visiting regional areas. “We know New Zealanders like to make the most of their stay, they’re fantastic visitors to have,” she adds.
In 2024, 293,000 Kiwis visited Britain, up 56% on 2019 levels, and spent GBP375 million, up 119% on the 2019 spend. Angus says Visit Britain’s latest forecast expects 285,000 Kiwi visitors and a spend of GBP382 million for 2025. Some 55% of Kiwi visits in 2024 were outside the summer peak, with Jul-Dec the most popular period. Angus says Southeast England and North West England are the top destinations for Kiwis, trends expected to continue into 2026, she adds. Upcoming sporting events and new film and television production releases are expected to motivate travel. “We are thrilled with how the market’s responded after Covid, and really excited to be working with the New Zealand trade for another bumper year,” Angus says.
. . . Famils
Visit Britain is planning two agent famils in the first half of 2026, says Angus. One, in conjunction with Emirates, will give agents a taste of the West Midlands, featuring locations from Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter. The NTO is also planning a famil with Qantas, with more details to come in the new year. Destination training continue in 2026 through webinars and the NTO’s own trade newsletter, she adds.