New Zealand offered Chinese tourists an easier path to visit, and they’re loving it

AI Summary

New Zealand is experiencing a 40% increase in Chinese tourists following a 12-month trial allowing visa exemptions for Chinese and Pacific visitors traveling from Australia. This initiative aims to boost the country's significant tourism sector.

New Zealand has seen a surge in Chinese tourists since it began testing an easier pathway for visitors via Australia. The government began a 12-month trial in November that exempted Chinese and Pacific people from visa requirements if they were travelling from Australia. Officials estimated that after six months the new option has resulted in a 40 per cent increase in Chinese visitor arrivals, Tourism Minister Louise Upston said on Thursday in Wellington. Tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest...