is the second largest export, a position it held both before and after the recent global challenges. Since the passing of the pandemic, the country has observed a significant resurgence in the last year. “We’ve seen a strong recovery in the last 12 months; so, in terms of international expenditure, we’ve seen an increase of 60%,” Upston explains. While visitor numbers currently sit at 85% of preCOVID levels, it’s undeniable that the country is quickly returning to its former levels of visitor activity. To bolster this resurgence, New Zealand is actively engaging in revitalization efforts, notably a targeted campaign aimed at its “Australian friends and cousins” to encourage increased visitation from its closest neighbor. One of the key ways of doing that has been the strategic investments being made in biodiversity to protect the natural environment that serves as a primary draw for visitors. “So many people visit New Zealand because of 91 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 07, ISSUE 07 NEW ZEALAND TOURISM & HOSPITALITY
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