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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Chef
City:
Otago / Southland
Job Type:
Temporary
Date:
9/10/2025
Temporary Chef - RealNZ (AWF Client)
Location: Doubtful Sound (with potential coverage in Queenstown & Milford Sound)
Roster: 7 days on / 7 days off (on-call basis)
Employment Type: Temporary / Contract
Pay: Competitive, based on experience and capability
About the Role:
AWF is seeking a skilled and experienced chef to support our client RealNZ in delivering high-quality buffet-style meals in remote and scenic locations. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments an
Class 4 Driver
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
Extrastaff are looking for a Class 4 Civil Drivers with a proven track record in navigating construction sites. You might be driving tipper trucks, loaders, water carts or rollers! If you don't mind rolling up your sleeves and working with the crew on the ground then this is a role that has it all!
What's In It For You:
Work for a reputable company.
Opportunity for temp to perm placement.
Variety of work
Opportunity to learn new skills
Excellent team environment.
Variety of projects acros
Class 2 Driver - Chipseal
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
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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Experienced Cleaner
City:
Christchurch
Job Type:
Permanent / Full Time
Date:
9/10/2025
My client is looking for an experienced cleaner for a full time role cleaning accomodation in Queenstown.
Responsibilities involve:
- Thorough cleaning of rooms
- Ensuring vacant rooms are clean and set up for new guests
Requirements:
- Essential that you have previous experience in a cleaning / house keeping role
- Professional, punctual and reliable
- A good eye for detail
- Physically fit
- Your own transport to get to and from work
- Available for full time, long term work
If you