New Zealand’s government has outlined a series of public events and tourism initiatives intended to lift international visitors and drive hotel occupancy and accommodation demand across the country in 2026.
The plan, part of a wider Major Events and Tourism investment package, aims to support regional economies and improve tourism business outcomes, including for hospitality and hotel operators.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Government tourism investment seeks to increase visitor flows
On 10 February 2026, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) announced it will allocate NZD 3.2 million from the Events Boost Fund to a broad slate of events spanning May through December.
The funding is part of the $70 million Major Events and Tourism package, which also includes multi-million dollar programmes aimed at attracting larger international events and improving regional tourism marketing over the medium term.
The government says the investment is designed to help existing events grow and develop new features to attract visitors from offshore and within New Zealand.
Events in tourism clusters can generate increased hotel stays and spending in local communities.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataDiverse events programme spans regions and sectors
The events selected for funding are geographically dispersed and representative of New Zealand’s cultural, sporting and culinary assets. Proposed activity includes:
- yacht racing in the Bay of Islands,
- food and wine experiences in Wellington,
- Matariki cultural celebrations in Rotorua, and
- running festivals in Tekapo and Nelson Tasman.
These events are expected to draw both domestic and international travellers, supporting longer stays and increased accommodation demand across a range of hotel segments from luxury to economy.
International visitors often time their travel around major events, creating peak occupancy periods for hotels and related tourism businesses.
Broader tourism strategy and economic context
The Events Boost Fund is contestable and focused on delivery during the 2026 calendar year.
MBIE’s tourism strategy also includes the Regional Tourism Boost programme, which provides funding for regional marketing campaigns that promote travel, accommodation and experiences in areas beyond the main centres, with the intention of driving average overnight hotel stays in regional destinations.
Industry observers have highlighted that sustained visitor growth could improve hotel revenue performance as international travel rebounds following earlier downturns.
A recent industry update from Tourism Industry Aotearoa cites evidence of stronger bookings and growing confidence among operators ahead of 2026.
Government and industry sources emphasise that events are increasingly used as tools for tourism planning and economic boosting, with the potential for positive spill-over into accommodation providers, restaurants and transport businesses across New Zealand.
