How many holidaymakers are in NZ for lockdown? Here’s the latest data

31st March 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

Around 70,000 people were on short-term visitor visas in New Zealand on the eve of the four-week lockdown, according to the latest government data.

Immigration New Zealand showed around 69,700 visitor visa holders were in the country on 24 March, the day before the lockdown started last week.

The data excluded Australians, who have the right to live and work in New Zealand.

The British made up the single largest nationality with 10,300 visitor visa holders, or 15% of the total. They were followed by Germans and Indians, both recording around 7600, China at 6500 and the United States, at 6400.

However, another 39,300 people were in New Zealand on the working holiday scheme, with most now expected to be without employment. On top of that, 84,100 people were on the international student visa.

For all visa types, there were 315,200 visa holders in the country on 24 March, with 62,800 on essential skills, 48,400 on family visas.

Travellers have been scrambling to depart the country since the lockdown was announced last week with some chartering private domestic flights to make international connections at Auckland.

The tourism industry here has been helping those stranded to find suitable accommodation for the four-week lockdown.

The Government has eased rules to allow any person currently in New Zealand holding a temporary visa expiring between 2 April – 9 July to get an automatic extension until 25 September.