Australia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, and Samoa Unlock Tourism Opportunities via Pacific-Wide 2024 Travel Intelligence Reports

Marți aprilie 15, 2025

In a milestone moment for Pacific island tourism, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), in collaboration with Niue Tourism and with support from the New Zealand Government, has released critical findings from the 2024 International Visitor Survey (IVS). The insights, gathered through the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI), shine a light on the spending habits, motivations, and demographics of visitors to Niue—one of the Pacific’s most unique island destinations.

Niue Joins Pacific Data Powerhouse to Boost Regional Tourism Resilience

Niue is one of 10 Pacific Island countries participating in the PTDI, joining peers such as the Cook Islands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Kiribati, Timor Leste, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM–Yap). Funded by the New Zealand Government, this initiative continues to serve as a central source of tourism intelligence through its triad of data tools: the biannual IVS, the annual Business Confidence Index (BCI), and the Community Attitude Survey (CAS).

For Niue, this data isn’t just a statistic—it’s a roadmap for building a resilient, data-driven tourism future.

Local Leadership Embraces Survey Findings for Strategic Planning

Micah Fuhiniu-Viviani, Director of the Niue Tourism Office, emphasized the importance of the findings for both domestic and regional stakeholders. She noted that the insights drawn from the 2024 survey are instrumental in shaping a sustainable and adaptive tourism sector.

“These surveys are invaluable in shaping a resilient and responsive tourism sector. The insights from these reports allow us to enrich visitor experiences and bolster Niue’s standing as a destination,” Ms. Fuhiniu-Viviani said.

Her comments reinforce a growing sentiment among Pacific island tourism leaders: real-time data is essential to navigate the changing tides of global travel.

Who’s Visiting Niue—and Why It Matters

The report revealed a strong dependency on the New Zealand market, with Kiwi travelers making up a significant 82% of total arrivals. Australia followed with 10%, and neighboring Pacific Islands contributed another 3%. The average visitor profile paints a clear picture: tourists aged between 50 and 69 years old, with a healthy household income averaging NZD 140,700.

The appeal of Niue is also spreading. Nearly half (49%) of all arrivals were first-time visitors—a signal that the destination is expanding its reach and visibility on the global stage.

Purpose-Driven Travel: Leisure Leads, But Business is Rising

The survey also captured a diverse set of travel motivations, with holidaymakers leading the pack at 69%. However, 17% were visiting friends and family, and 9% cited business or conference-related purposes. Notably, the average length of stay clocked in at 8.8 nights, suggesting that Niue is not only attracting visitors—it’s encouraging them to stay longer.

For tourism operators, this opens up opportunities in both the leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) markets.

High Economic Yield: Spending That Fuels the Island Economy

The economic value of tourism was another highlight of the IVS. On average, international visitors spent NZD 818 on prepaid expenses and NZD 1,566 during their stay. The estimated return on spending was pegged at 40%, offering tangible evidence of tourism’s positive ripple effect through the local economy.

These figures support the expansion of hospitality services, local guides, and community-based tourism experiences that directly benefit residents.

SPTO Champions Data-Driven Recovery Across the Pacific

SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker reiterated the importance of tools like the PTDI, especially in the post-pandemic recovery landscape. “The PTDI gives us the tools to track what’s changing in tourism and respond with strategies that work for our people, businesses, and visitors,” he said.

He stressed that the tourism sector is evolving at a rapid pace and that decision-making based on data—not assumption—is the key to long-term sustainability.

“With insights from the PTDI, we’re better equipped to plan, adapt, and ensure tourism continues to benefit Pacific communities in real and lasting ways,” Cocker added.

Why This Matters for Regional and Global Tourism Planners

For destination marketers, tourism investors, and regional planners, this survey sets a benchmark. The increasing flow of first-time tourists, the high-spending traveler demographic, and the demand for longer stays point to real opportunities for sustainable growth.

Countries in the region can also look to Niue’s model for integrating PTDI tools into national strategies—linking visitor feedback to product development, destination branding, and policy shifts.

Beyond Niue: Strengthening Pacific Island Tourism through Collaboration

As SPTO and national tourism offices across the Pacific continue to work together through initiatives like PTDI, the collective knowledge base is growing. These findings are not only shaping Niue’s future—they are supporting a collaborative, regional response to the evolving tourism landscape.

Other nations in the PTDI cohort—such as Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands—are expected to release their own 2024 IVS reports, contributing to a rich mosaic of regional insights.

How to Access the Data and Stay Updated

Travel professionals, researchers, and government stakeholders interested in the full findings or looking to align strategies with SPTO’s tourism intelligence can access resources via Website.