"We've made it a real focus": Tourism Minister excited to see visitor numbers hit pre-Covid levels

A sigh of relief from the Tourism Minister after July visitor numbers surpassed pre-Covid levels. 

Stats NZ data shows 256,600 overseas visitors arrived in July – more than half of them from Australia. 

That's 0.4% higher than July 2019. 

Minister Louise Upston told Mike Hosking it shows a strong government focus on tourism can help drive demand. 

She says one in nine New Zealanders is employed in tourism and hospitality, so growing tourism is critical for growing economic opportunities. 

LISTEN ABOVE