A 2024 study conducted by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Airbnb estimates that guest spending linked to the platform contributed approximately $5.1 billion to New Zealand’s economy—equivalent to about 10 percent of the nation’s tourism GDP. This economic activity supported roughly 33,300 jobs and generated an estimated $1.8 billion in wages across the country.
Domestic travel continues to rebound strongly, with local guests making up around 55 percent of Airbnb bookings in 2024, a rise of over 10 percentage points compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Internationally, the Asia Pacific region was the largest source of visitors using Airbnb, led by travelers from Australia, China, and Singapore. Europe and North America followed as significant markets, with Australians representing 30 percent of all international stays and U.S. visitors accounting for 17 percent.
Total guest expenditure in New Zealand reached $4.4 billion in 2024, covering both lodging and non-accommodation spending. On average, guests stayed three nights and spent $380 per day on essentials such as meals, shopping, entertainment, groceries, and transportation. For every $100 spent locally, $32 went to restaurants, $19 to groceries, $17 each to retail and cultural activities, and $16 to transport.
Host earnings played a vital role in sustaining local economies, funding home maintenance, domestic services, and personal consumption—supporting neighborhood businesses and tradespeople. The platform’s broader economic footprint extended beyond tourism, contributing over $1 billion to transport and logistics, primarily through direct guest spending on local transit and air travel. Another $1 billion flowed into property-related services, with additional injections of $435 million into business services and over $400 million into manufacturing.
Airbnb’s presence helped sustain employment in various sectors, including around 8,900 jobs in food and beverage, 4,000 in wholesale and retail, 3,600 in transport and storage, and 2,900 in business services. Wage contributions included approximately $439 million in transport, $190 million in business services, and $187 million in food and beverage—demonstrating wide-reaching community benefits.
Travel patterns are shifting, with nearly 41 percent of total booking value occurring in non-urban areas—an increase of three percentage points since 2019—indicating a sustained preference for regional destinations. This dispersion supports economic resilience in smaller communities.
James Lambert, Director of Economic Consulting Asia at Oxford Economics, noted that domestic travelers have been instrumental in the tourism recovery, while traditional markets in the Asia Pacific remain crucial for international visitation. He emphasized Airbnb’s role in expanding access to lesser-known regions, promoting equitable distribution of tourism income.
Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, expressed enthusiasm about the platform’s contribution to spreading economic opportunities beyond major cities. She highlighted the value of empowering local hosts and enabling authentic travel experiences.
Greg Thomas, Acting CEO of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, praised Airbnb for strengthening New Zealand’s tourism ecosystem by connecting visitors with unique local offerings and supporting jobs in previously overlooked areas.
— news from Airbnb Newsroom
— News Original —
Oxford Economics report reveals Airbnb’s $5 billion impact in New Zealand
New research¹ by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Airbnb shows that spending associated with Airbnb contributed an estimated $5.1 billion to New Zealand’s economy in 2024, approximately 10 percent of the country’s tourism GDP. Economic activity from Airbnb’s presence also helped support around 33,300 Kiwi jobs while contributing an estimated $1.8 billion in wage income. n nThe report found a continued recovery in domestic travel, with domestic guests accounting for around 55 percent of Airbnb stays in 2024 – a more than 10 percentage point increase on the 2019 pre-COVID share. More than half of all international visitors to New Zealand using Airbnb came from within the Asia Pacific region in 2024 with Australia, China and Singapore among the top three. Europe was the next largest source of origin for travellers followed by North America. Aussie travellers were the single largest source of international guests, accounting for 30 percent of the total, followed closely by the United States (17 percent). n nIn 2024, Airbnb guest spending in New Zealand reached $4.4 billion, which includes both accommodation and non‑accommodation expenses. Guests stayed an average of three days in their Airbnb accommodation and spent on average $380 daily on non‑accommodation essentials like dining, shopping, entertainment, groceries and transport. Of every $100 spent in-destination, $32 went to restaurants, $19 to groceries, $17 each to shopping and arts and entertainment and $16 on transport. n nHost earnings also helped fuel local economies with income from hosting supporting property upkeep, domestic services, and spending on personal goods and services – all helping to sustain local businesses and trades. n nHOST SPOTLIGHT: GARRY, TWIZEL, NEW ZEALAND n n“Twizel, obviously it’s quite a small town, and it wouldn’t necessarily be on people’s radar of where to go if there wasn’t that destination aspect and the uniqueness of the property. People are amazed at the scenery, the quietness and the relaxed nature of how Kiwis deal with overseas visitors, I think. It’s just a fun experience. I enjoy listening to people say ‘thanks so much’ and those three words pretty much sum it up.” n nAirbnb’s footprint accounted for 10 percent of New Zealand’s travel and tourism GDP in 2024 and supported 8 percent of tourism-related employment – equivalent to one in every 13 tourism-related jobs. n nBeyond front-line tourism sectors, Airbnb-generated activity injected significant value into the wider economy. The platform contributed more than $1 billion in transport and logistics, 81 percent of which resulted from the direct spending of Airbnb guests on local transport and airfares. Airbnb-related activities also injected more than $1 billion into the property services sector, alongside $435 million in businesses and services and more than $400 million in the manufacturing sectors. n nAirbnb-supported tourism helped support approximately 8,900 jobs in food and beverage services, 4,000 in wholesale and retail trade, 3,600 in transport and storage, and 2,900 in business services. These roles translated into tangible wage benefits with Airbnb activity contributing around $439 million in transport sector wages, $190 million in business services, and $187 million for food and beverage services, highlighting a broad and meaningful economic uplift across communities. n nTourism in New Zealand is increasingly spreading beyond city centres with the non-urban share of total gross booking value at almost 41 percent, up three percentage points from 20192, demonstrating a lasting shift in demand for non-urban travel in 2024. n n“New Zealand’s tourism recovery highlights the importance of both domestic and inbound travel. Kiwi travellers have been key drivers of the sector’s resurgence, with their share of total Airbnb guests in 2024 easily surpassing 2019 levels. At the same time, traditional APAC markets, particularly Australia and Mainland China, continue to serve as major sources of inbound tourists, reinforcing New Zealand’s appeal as an attractive travel destination in the region. n n“Airbnb has played a key role in transforming travel patterns across New Zealand, unlocking new opportunities for regional tourism. By connecting travellers with unique accommodations in lesser-known destinations, the platform has facilitated the dispersion of tourism benefits more evenly throughout the country, supporting local employment and small businesses, and sustaining livelihoods in communities beyond the major cities.” James Lambert, Director of Economic Consulting Asia for Oxford Economics. n n“We’re delighted to see New Zealand’s tourism maintaining its growth in an increasingly challenging economic environment with Airbnb bringing in guests from a broader mix of countries around the world. With an increasing number of stays happening outside major city centres, Airbnb is playing a vital role in channeling economic benefits and opportunities into smaller communities right across Aotearoa. n n“It’s incredibly rewarding to know that our presence is helping local businesses thrive, supporting jobs in communities that were once off the radar for many travellers. At Airbnb, we’re proud to help shine a spotlight on every corner of New Zealand and empower communities to share in the rewards of travel,” said Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager Australia and New Zealand. n n“Airbnb is a key contributor to New Zealand’s thriving tourism sector—connecting travellers with authentic Kiwi experiences and helping them discover the unique charm of our regions. By opening more doors in local communities, Airbnb empowers small businesses, sustains local jobs, and plays an essential role in fostering a resilient and welcoming tourism industry across Aotearoa,” Greg Thomas, Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Acting CEO. n nMore information on Oxford Economics research can be found here. n nAbout Oxford Economics n nOxford Economics was founded in 1981 as a commercial venture with the University of Oxford’s business college to provide economic forecasting and modelling to UK companies and financial institutions expanding abroad. Since then, Oxford Economics has become one of the world’s foremost independent global advisory firms, providing reports, forecasts and analytical tools on more than 200 countries, 100 industries, and 8,000 cities and regions.