Wānaka Quarterly Visitor Data Snapshot July - September 2024 (Q1 FY24-25)

The Lake Wānaka Tourism's Quarterly Visitor Data Snapshots aim to provide members with access to topline information about the prior quarter’s performance. These insights have been gathered from the LWT Visitor Insights Dashboard. The Visitor Insights Dashboard provides members and stakeholders access to clear visitor data and RTO-led research, supporting informed business decision-making.

New: Emerging Travel Trends and Industry Shifts research
LWT is please to share the Emerging Travel Trends and Industry Shifts research, conducted by Destination Queenstown. This research provides a comprehensive summary of key traveller-driven trends emerging in the tourism industry, alongside an in-depth analysis of broader industry shifts expected to grow significantly in the near and long term. Each trend or shift is thoroughly examined, its impact explored, and followed by real-life examples of the trend in action. This resource, produced every two years, aims to support members with strategically adjusting business focus, mitigating potential risks, and seizing market opportunities effectively.

Read the Emerging Travel Trends and Industry Shifts research.

July - September 2024 (Q1 FY24-25) Overview
In the July - September 2024 period Wānaka's visitor expenditure reached $89.6m, which is comparative to the same period 2023. International expenditure increased by 12% boosted by USA and rest of Asia (including India and Singapore) spend, but offset slightly by a 4% decline in domestic expenditure, largely from the fly markets like Auckland and Wellington. Commercial Accommodation guest nights decreased by 3% compared to the same period in 2023. Wānaka hosted over 761,480 cumulative visitor days, with the domestic market accounting for 65% of visitor days. Average occupancy was recorded at 34% in July, 42% in August and September. The visitor experience score remained stable, with Net Promoter Scores (NPS) at 69 over the past year and 74 in the last three months, well above the New Zealand NPS average.

Note: expenditure figures aren't inflation-adjusted.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE
The Visitor Experience Survey is a survey of visitors to the Queenstown Lakes district. 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.

VISITATION - CUMULATIVE VISITOR ESTIMATES
The cumulative visitor estimates represent the total number of daily visitors counted over a specific period of time - usually a month or quarter, 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 is currently investigating issues that may be leading to an understatement of international visitor counts in recent data (July - September 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. Further information.

Content Disclaimer: The content contained within this email is current at the time of publishing and has been gathered from the latest information available to LWT and DQ. This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please contact us. Any unauthorised use, distribution or copying of the contents is prohibited.

Insights Disclaimer: Any information supplied is intended to inform about general historic destination performance based on information available at the time. It is not intended to be a substitute for further professional advice or more rigorous or specific analysis. It may not apply to an organisation’s specific situation and is not intended to be used or viewed in isolation. DQ and LWT assumes no liability for any actions taken based on supplied information or insights. The data sets, insights, and related resources provided are confidential to Lake Wānaka Tourism and its membership base only and are not for publication or dissemination.