Welcome to the Tourism Waitaki Data Dashboard, your gateway to understanding the trends and dynamics of tourism in our region.
Here, we provide real-time data and analytics to help stakeholders, local businesses, and curious visitors gain a deeper understanding of Waitaki’s tourism landscape.
February 2026 Insights
Considerable increases in visitor activity including spend and guest nights drove strong employment growth
A strong international rebound masked a soft domestic month, leaving total visitor days essentially flat but lifting spending and accommodation sharply. Total visitor days held steady (▼-1% YoY) as a domestic contraction (▼-9% YoY) was almost entirely offset by international growth (▲+29% YoY). The international surge translated into higher total visitor spending (▲+7% YoY) and the strongest guest night growth of any South Island RTO (▲+18% YoY), suggesting the region captured longer international stays rather than touring traffic. Tourism-related employment followed the accommodation uplift, with filled jobs (▲+12% YoY) and earnings (▲+17% YoY) both leading the South Island. The Waitangi long weekend was the busiest part of the month for domestic visitors.
International visitor spending and guest nights climb while domestic visitor days soften
International visitors stayed longer and spent more per trip, while the domestic segment softened across the board. International visitor days jumped (▲+29% YoY) with international visitor nights somewhat behind (▲+23% YoY), suggesting a shift towards more day trips over overnight stays. International guest nights (▲+21% YoY) tracked broadly with visitor nights, indicating a stable share of international overnighters chose commercial accommodation. International visitor spending (▲+33% YoY) outpaced international visitor days, pointing to higher average spend per visitor. Domestic metrics moved in the opposite direction: domestic visitor days fell (▼-9% YoY), domestic visitor nights fell at a similar rate (▼-7% YoY), however domestic guest nights grew (▲+17% YoY), suggesting those domestic visitors who did come opted more heavily for commercial accommodation over alternative stay options.
Surging international visitor days offset domestic decline to keep total visitor days stable
A strong international summer season almost completely offset a domestic contraction, leaving Waitaki's total visitor days essentially flat. Total visitor days dipped (▼-1% YoY), ranking 10th of 16 South Island RTOs, as domestic visitor days fell (▼-9% YoY) while international visitor days jumped (▲+29% YoY), the second strongest international result in the South Island behind Canterbury. The domestic decline placed Waitaki 14th of 16 South Island RTOs for domestic visitation, well below the West Coast (▲+1% YoY) and Fiordland (▼-1% YoY) which led the island. The Waitangi long weekend was the busiest period of the month for domestic visitors, with Friday 6 and Saturday 7 February the highest days.
Domestic decline driven by top source markets. International markets reshuffle with timing shift in Chinese New Year
Domestic visitation softened as the two source markets contracted, while some smaller markets grew. Canterbury (42% share) and Otago (28% share) together account for roughly 70% of domestic visitor days, and both declined (Canterbury ▼-12% YoY, Otago ▼-19% YoY). By contrast, the medium tier of source markets showed more positive signs: Auckland held flat (↔0% YoY); and Wellington grew (▲+15% YoY). Internationally, growth was broad across all major markets. China, Japan & Korea (43% share) drove the headline with the strongest growth, gaining share from 35% to 43%, likely driven by a shift in Chinese New Year timing as January showed a contraction. Rest of Asia and Australia also expanded strongly. Europe (19% share) was the only top tier market to contract (▼-8% YoY), but this appears to be a timing shift: European visitor days grew ▲+46% YoY in January and the quarterly picture for the summer season remains positive (▲+12% YoY). USA & Canada contracted (▼-13% YoY), consistent with a broader quarterly downtrend (▼-18% YoY).
Higher average spending per domestic visitor amid fewer visitor days
Domestic visitor spending softened slightly (▼-1% YoY), trailing the national benchmark of ▲+8% YoY and sitting in the middle of the South Island pack (9th of 16). The quarterly picture (▼-2% YoY) confirms the monthly reading is not a timing anomaly, though the rolling 12 month trend remains positive (▲+5% YoY), suggesting the contraction is recent. The domestic spend result is consistent with the domestic visitor day decline (▼-9% YoY): fewer domestic visitors, but those who came appear to have spent more on average.
International visitor spending outpaces visitor day growth amid a sustained upward visitation trajectory
International visitor spending was a standout, growing ▲+33% YoY and ranking third among South Island RTOs, well ahead of the national benchmark of ▲+18% YoY. The quarterly picture for the summer season (▲+19% YoY) and the rolling 12 month trend (▲+11% YoY) both support the monthly reading as part of a sustained upward trajectory. International spend growth (▲+33% YoY) outpaced international visitor day growth (▲+29% YoY) slightly, suggesting average spend per international visitor also lifted somewhat. The result is consistent with the strong Asian market growth recorded, as China, Japan & Korea visitors expanded their share of international visitation.
Guest nights surge as more guests arrive and stay longer
Waitaki posted the strongest guest night growth of any South Island RTO, driven by both more arrivals and longer stays. Total guest nights jumped ▲+18% YoY against a national benchmark of ▲+6% YoY, with growth balanced across both segments: domestic guest nights grew ▲+17% YoY and international guest nights grew ▲+21% YoY. Guest arrivals rose ▲+10% YoY and average length of stay expanded ▲+7% YoY, meaning visitors both came in greater numbers and stayed longer. Occupancy lifted to 67% (▲+5%pt. YoY), absorbing a modest expansion in available capacity (▲+4% YoY) with demand growing faster than supply. The rolling 12 month trend (▲+7% YoY) confirms this was not isolated to a single month, though the February result meaningfully outpaced the longer running trajectory.
Broad growth in guest nights and occupancy. Hotels approach capacity
Growth was broad across all accommodation types, led by Holiday Parks & Campgrounds which dominate the district's capacity. Holiday Parks & Campgrounds (39% share of guest nights) grew ▲+21% YoY, with domestic (▲+20% YoY) and international (▲+23% YoY) guest nights expanding at similar rates. Motels & Apartments (6-20) posted the strongest growth rate at ▲+22% YoY total guest nights, driven by a sharp domestic uplift (▲+27% YoY) against a more modest international gain (▲+10% YoY). Hotels (24% share) grew guest nights ▲+10% YoY and reached 90% occupancy (▲+6%pt. YoY), approaching capacity constraints. Lodges & Boutique (14% share) grew guest nights ▲+12% YoY with international guest nights (▲+18% YoY) outpacing domestic (▲+6% YoY), and occupancy jumped to 84% (▲+17%pt. YoY), the sharpest occupancy gain of any property type.
Tourism workforce leads island growth with surging filled jobs and earnings across most sectors
Waitaki's tourism workforce expanded at the fastest rate in the South Island, with filled jobs and earnings both leading the island. Filled jobs grew ▲+12% YoY and earnings rose ▲+17% YoY, well ahead of the national benchmarks (filled jobs ▲+1% YoY, earnings ▲+4% YoY). The growth was concentrated in the two largest industries: Food and Beverage Services (55% of filled jobs) grew jobs ▲+9% YoY with earnings expanding ▲+18% YoY, and Accommodation (21% of filled jobs) grew jobs ▲+15% YoY with earnings expanding sharply (▲+48% YoY). Recreation Services and Activity Services (each 5% of filled jobs) both grew jobs ▲+20% YoY, signalling broad strength across experiential tourism related industries. Transport Services (6% of filled jobs) was the only significant industry to contract, shedding jobs (▼-13% YoY) and earnings (▼-11% YoY). The earnings outperformance relative to jobs across most industries suggests a structural lift in average earnings per position, consistent with the accommodation sector's strong demand backdrop.
