About the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Industry in New Zealand
The tourism and hospitality sector is currently New Zealand’s second largest export earner, providing nearly 17.1% of total export revenues and impacting a range of sectors besides hospitality.
Visitors to New Zealand spent $10 billion for the year ending December 2016, with numbers only expected to increase. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) expects this number to reach almost $15 billion by 2024. Overseas visitor numbers, which topped 3.7 million in the year ending January 2018 (up 5% on the previous year), have doubled every decade since 1970. MBIE predicts that numbers will rise to 5.1 million by 2024.
Demand for Professionals in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism
New Zealand attracts visitors from a diverse range of countries and backgrounds, and it’s important to make everybody feel welcome.
Our top 10 tourism markets are:
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Australia
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China
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USA
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UK
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Germany
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Japan
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South Korea
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Canada
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Singapore
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India
Each of these groups have their own characteristics and expectations. To meet their demands, the industry has had to lift its game and work at truly international standards, in the process creating great opportunities for its employees.
Demand for workers is expected to stay high, driven particularly by growth in overseas tourist numbers. Tourism spending is forecast to grow to 15.3 billion in 2023 while visitor numbers will increase by 39%. That will equate to over 4.9 million visitors a year - each one of them needing tourism and hospitality workers to cater to their needs.
Locations with the Highest Demand for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Professionals
The biggest concentrations of jobs in tourism and hospitality are, naturally, in the top tourist destinations:
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Auckland
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Queenstown
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Canterbury/Christchurch
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Rotorua/Bay of Plenty
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Wellington.
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However, tourism and hospitality jobs can be found almost everywhere.
Demand for tourism workers is highest in summer, which is when a third of international visitors choose to visit. About 20% of overseas visitors arrive in winter. Some tourism jobs are specific to different seasons, so job opportunities may be available for part of the year only. For example, kayaking guides are needed only in summer, while workers in snow sports, such as ski instructors, are needed in winter.
For Visa Applicants: Roles on the Skills Shortages List
If you are offered a job which appears on the list below, and you have the qualifications and experience to match, getting a work visa will be easier. This is because the government has identified that employers need to recruit people from overseas to help meet demand for your skills.
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Chef (Chef de Partie or higher)
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Outdoor Adventure Guide (Skydive Tandem Master)
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Snowsport Instructor
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Snowsport Instructor (including Technicians)
Featured Jobs
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Experienced cleaner - exciting opportunity
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We work with a company who provide luxury accommodation
They are seeking an experienced all-rounder to head down to Stewart Island for this year and work down there for them.
This role will include
- Thorough cleaning of accommodation in between bookings
- Re making of beds, cleaning down surfaces, vacuuming, mopping - everything to make the place look perfect for the next people staying
- Re stocking of consumables - purchasing from the store and re-filling the accommodation
- A small amo
Summer Ambassador
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Casual / Temporary / Contract
Date:
14/11/2025
Summer Ambassador (Queenstown & Wanaka)
Contract: Mid November 2025 to Late April 2026
Location: Queenstown Events Centre (QEC) / W?naka Recreation Centre (WRC) based
Do you love the outdoors, enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life, and want a role that lets you explore our beautiful region? Join us this summer as a Summer Ambassador helping visitors camp responsibly and enjoy the district safely.
Key Accountabilities / Rakatirataka
If a desk job isn't for you, then this job mi
Class 2 Driver - Chipseal
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
14/11/2025
We are looking for an experienced civil person with a class 2 license and experience as a sealing chip truck operator
Our ideal candidate:
Have minimum class 2 license
Relevant experience in chip sealing and tipping work
Physically fit and able to support ground staff.
A surfacing background.
We are offering full time ongoing work with competitive pay rates and upskilling for the right person, sites based around Christchurch
Apply today or call us for more info!
Apply Now
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