Many tourists consider Aotearoa-New Zealand to be a must-see destination because of its history of outdoor activity and stunning scenery.
However, many tourists were left in the dark about when they would be able to travel once the nation closed to tourists in March 2020.
The nation ultimately made the decision to proceed cautiously with its reopening during the coronavirus pandemic, keeping its borders closed for a little over two years.
Aotearoa-New Zealand used the unexpected time without millions of foreign arrivals to plan and get ready for a post-pandemic future, realizing it was a rare opportunity to reflect on its tourism business.
The outcome was that the island country became a model of resiliency, optimism, and inventiveness in the travel industry, and a strong contender to be chosen as the top international destination of 2022.
Aotearoa-New Zealand is creating a new path for tourism by concentrating on bringing in high-value, low-impact tourists (such as upmarket eco-lodge guests and other tourists devoted to traveling sustainably) and giving new relevance to Indigenous experiences and economic prospects.
Hopefully, without losing its appeal to more thrifty visitors like backpackers and road-trippers, who have historically made up a substantial portion of the country's tourists.
Furthermore, New Zealand's renewed emphasis on airlift and connectivity to important international markets like the U.S. is making it simpler than ever for travelers to reach the country, particularly in advance of the FIFA Women's World Cup, which Aotearoa-New Zealand and Australia will cohost in 2023.
Even though it only reopened to tourists in May, Aotearoa-New Zealand swiftly resumed its position as one of the most sought-after locations in the world for travelers who are interested in adventure and the environment.
And the momentum is just going to grow in the coming year.
A siren song for curious guests
Tourism New Zealand unveiled its global "If You Seek" campaign as the nation's borders reopened to foreign travelers.
By offering a glimpse at the people and locations of Aotearoa-New Zealand and genuinely representing the uniqueness of Maori culture, the nation hopes to attract outdoor enthusiasts, culture vultures, and anyone interested in traveling outside the country's major urban centers with this campaign.
The largest living kauri tree, Tane Mahuta, which is located in the Waipoua Forest and is thought to be more than 2,000 years old, is among the featured locations and attractions, as are Hooker Valley, which is close to Aoraki/Mount Cook, the highest point in the nation.
The Nelson Tasman region's Tasman's Great Taste Trail, a 175-kilometer (approximately 109-mile) circuit for biking and hiking, is also highlighted as a must-see location.
The choice to highlight these natural areas was deliberate, as these are the kinds of destinations that will interest the tourists Aotearoa-New Zealand hopes to draw:
individuals with comparable aims and goals to those outlined in the nation's environmental policies.
The chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, René de Monchy, recently stated that "we think they are guests who will investigate more deeply and ultimately contribute to New Zealand's tourism sector in ways beyond the economic benefit."
They [travelers] are people who wish to respectfully engage with our society, culture, and environment.
It shouldn't be surprising that many of Aotearoa-New Zealand's best sights may be found in nature given the country's dedication to environmental preservation (more than 33% of the country's landscapes are protected).
The little nation is home to many breathtaking natural treasures, from breathtaking black-sand beaches composed of volcanic rocks to the otherworldly glowworm luminescence in the Waitomo Caves.
The Fiordland National Park, however, is unmatched in its ability to inspire.
Milford Sound, a fiord famous for its breathtaking views of waterfalls, mountains, and wildlife, is located in Fiordland on the west coast of the South Island.
Because of the fjord's allure, English author Rudyard Kipling is credited with calling it "the eighth wonder of the world."
Milford Sound may be visited in a single day from neighboring Queenstown or Te Anau, but you should plan to spend at least a few days exploring the fjord and its surroundings.
Explore the serene waters of Milford Sound in style by spending the night on a two-day luxury cruise.
Another option is to rough it while on a multiday hike through Fiordland National Park.
One of the better paths is Kepler Track, which should only be attempted during the Great Walks Season, which runs from mid-October to mid-April (New Zealand's spring, summer, and fall) because the alpine weather can be harsh throughout the winter and necessitate extra equipment.
This path is typically completed by hikers in four days and three nights, and there are huts and campsites along the way that require reservations.
"The park itself is full of mirrored lakes that reflect the sky and mountains, and the trip to the Sound is spectacular, "added.
"The fact that I visited Fiordland National Park helped make my trip to New Zealand one of my all-time favorite adventures.
Sustainability Commitment
This island nation, about the size of Colorado, keeps sustainability at the forefront of all it does and is home to an astonishing 13 national parks.
The Aotearoa-New Zealand government takes sustainability into account when making important policy decisions in addition to considering the effects of tourism on the environment.
For instance, while negotiating free trade agreements with other nations, the nation frequently includes legally binding climate pledges.
In addition, Air New Zealand reaffirmed its promise to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 during the New Zealand Tourism Conference in November.
Just before the coronavirus outbreak, New Zealand Tourism also unveiled the Tiaki Promise, a commitment to sustainability for both tourists and locals that calls for promoting lesser-known locations in an effort to curb over-tourism.
The seven conservation-focused principles known as Leave No Trace, which are promoted in national parks and other public spaces all around the United States, are quite similar to the ones of the Tiaki Promise.
For instance, Kaai Silbery, owner of Go Wild Apiary on the Chatham Islands of Aotearoa-New Zealand, is directing the growth of the local honey sector on the island along with other apiarists working to guarantee the islands continue to be a disease-free refuge for bees.
The Tarahina tree, which is extinct outside of the Chatham Islands, provided the pollen for Silbery's freeze-dried honey.
Silbery stated that since the Tiaki Promise's inception, she has witnessed an increase in both visitation and overall caring for the Chatham Islands (Rekohu) and the threatened species that call them home.
based on my experience, "And through the tours of her establishment, Silbery stated, "I've definitely noticed an increase in curiosity to learn more about Chatham Island's rich apiculture, flora, and the fascinating history of our bees - my great uncle was a beekeeper on the Chatham Islands!"
Silbery continued, "I've also seen," "a significant expansion of our rapidly expanding Moriori culture's rich past on the Chatham Islands (Rekohu).
Must-have cultural experiences
Although Tourism New Zealand has concentrated a lot of its efforts on sustainability, it also places a lot of importance on providing real cultural experiences.
When you go, you can engage in a variety of Maori cultural interactions and activities.
For instance, you can partake in a traditional hangi feast in Rotorua, which is prepared in hot pits dug into the earth.
On the east coast of the North Island, you can also take part in an interpretive storytelling walk up Maunga Hikurangi.
Plan your trip to coincide with Matariki, the Maori new year if you're traveling in June or July (two of Aotearoa-New Zealand's winter months).
With food, tales, and music, people from all around Aotearoa-New Zealand unite to celebrate the past, present, and future on this unique occasion, which became an official holiday in 2022.
On Rotorua, Whakarewarewa is a must-see if you happen to be on the North Island.
Even after three trips to the country, We still count her time at Whakarewarewa as one of her favorite Aotearoa-New Zealand memories.
The local Maoris kindly share their tales and cultural customs with guests, she said, making it a genuinely unforgettable experience.
"In my travels across the world, I have never repeatedly experienced the warmth and friendliness of complete strangers as I have in New Zealand. I also really appreciate and admire the nation's dedication to protecting its Indigenous heritage."
New hotels put culture and sustainability first.
The opening of more than a dozen hotels that were scheduled to open in 2021 or 2022 during the border closure was only possible this year, for the first time.
In Aotearoa-New Zealand, there are a number of remarkable new hotels, particularly in the country's thriving cities.
The surprising-affordable Park Hyatt Auckland, located in the center of Auckland's core business district, is a resort filled with art on the North Island.
You'll find striking design elements in this hotel that were influenced by Maori art & culture, such as a screen-like exterior that was created to replicate the traditional cloak known as a Korowai.
The New Zealand Green Building Council's stringent environmental standards were met in the construction of Auckland's central business district's Hotel Britomart, which was awarded a rating of five green stars.
In addition to making the Tiaki Promise to New Zealand Tourism, the resort has made it a solid business aim to be as free of single-use plastics as possible by requiring all vendors to supply goods in compostable, biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable packaging.
The current compliance rate is 95%.
The Carlin Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand, is one of the best hotels on the South Island.
Views of the Eyre Remarkable mountain ranges and Lake Wakatipu may be seen in all their glory from this location.
There is also the stylish Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses in Kaikoura, which was built to go with its setting on a farm where deer are bred for the coast.
The family-owned property, which was constructed from recycled wood, makes a range of sustainable efforts to protect the environment.
These include producing organic vegetables and herbs on-site, planting native trees, buying local produce from surrounding farmers and ranchers, and recycling and composting as much as possible in order to create a zero-waste society.
Increased connectivity for flights
Even though there were direct flights from West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco before the pandemic, traveling to the nation is now even simpler thanks to Air New Zealand, which will begin nonstop service from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Auckland Airport (AKL) in September 2022.
A similar route will be introduced by Qantas in March 2023, giving travelers from the United States an additional choice in addition to the multiple points and mile redemption choices presently available.
It is not by chance that the nation has been looking for new travel choices for Americans who are interested in visiting Aotearoa-New Zealand, as the U.S. is the third-largest source of tourists, according to Tourism New Zealand.
According to a recent statement from Tourism New Zealand, "the return of [travelers] to New Zealand and the recovery of flight connectivity from significant markets like North America is a crucial milestone for the tourism sector."
"We're able to work together with Air New Zealand so that New Zealand attracts top-notch tourists from this crucial market."
This sentiment is shared by Air New Zealand.
According to Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran, "the U.S. has always been a significant market for us, and this new route cements our commitment to developing rising tourism prospects between the two countries."
"We anticipate that this new route would contribute an additional $65 million per year into the local economy," the report reads. "In the six years prior to [COVID-19], the U.S. visitor numbers to New Zealand increased.
In conclusion
By highlighting and valuing Maori culture in daily life, Aotearoa-New Zealand makes it simple for tourists looking for Indigenous experiences.
In this country, sustainability is more than just a trendy phrase; it is a significant national project that is prioritized by hotels, airlines, and the entire travel sector in order to fulfill climate targets and continue efforts to protect the environment and its inhabitants.
Due to these factors, the country is not only our top foreign travel destination for 2022 but is also listed among the top destinations for travel in 2023.
It is clear that the nation managed to improve on a difficult situation when foreign travel stopped. Leaders were careful to take pandemic safeguards and to resume travel slowly.
The tourism sector made effective use of the time to design a fresh campaign, new air service, and a sustainable future.
There will be a significant athletic event in 2023, a number of new hotels will open, and there will be more nonstop flights from the United States.
Make this the year you go to Aotearoa-New Zealand if you've always wanted to.
It is making a strong comeback on the tourism scene thanks to so many beneficial developments.
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