The cost of slow border openings to tourism: $39b by 2024

The Wanaka tree, one of Instagram's most popular snaps, waits for borders to open. (Image: Deposit photos)

Mon, 29 Nov 2021

New Zealand's tourism sector has tracked losses of more than $1.2 billion a month since border closures last March, Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) says.The 1,300-member advocacy group counts $26b in lost earnings since NZ's border restrictions began, as the government's reaction to the covid pandemic smashed the country's biggest export earner.In 2019, the visitor economy generated $17.5b, or about a fifth of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. That's more than dairy exports, which were at $17.1b.And there’...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

NZX 50 lifts 0.5% as Eroad continues to climb

Metroglass shares were down after it announced its recapitalisation plan.

Gregor Thompson 5:50pm

Economy

Jones looking at gas rationing

“The wholesale hollowing out of the regional manufacturing sector.”

Ian Llewellyn 2:40pm

Markets

Metroglass recap plan hands control to Amari Metals

An independent report said Metroglass was left with “no viable alternatives”.

Gregor Thompson 1:30pm

Metroglass recap plan hands control to Amari Metals

Sponsored

Why NZ businesses lag on solar and the adoption of clean on-site renewable energy

Aussie firms are beating Kiwis in solar use – but that can change.

Lightforce

Sponsored

A decade in, Spark’s AI journey is paying off

The telco’s use of AI offers insights for every Kiwi business.

Spark

More Economy

Economy

Jones looking at gas rationing

“The wholesale hollowing out of the regional manufacturing sector.”

Ian Llewellyn 2:40pm

Economy

Treasury says covid spending overcooked

A new Treasury paper has criticised the last Government for overspending during the pandemic, leaving the country with a high level of public debt that makes it vulnerable to future shocks.The paper calculated the total cost of the pandemic at about $66 billion. It put the total...

Staff reporters 07 Aug 2025