New Zealand Tourism Sees Growth With Multi-generational Travel Trend

Published on August 23, 2025

Multi-generational travel, often referred to arsenic bequest tourism, is quickly gaining traction arsenic an emerging inclination successful nan world recreation industry. Families are progressively choosing to prioritize shared vacation experiences complete worldly wealth, pinch an expanding number of grandparents and elder family members opting to walk their savings connected unforgettable vacations alternatively than leaving ample inheritances behind. New Zealand tourism operators are group to use from this evolving trend, pinch extended family group bookings connected nan rise.

The inclination is being highlighted by respective studies, including a caller study by Booking.com. With complete 27,000 study participants globally, including 1,300 New Zealanders, nan information shows that astir half of Kiwi travellers (45%) for illustration to walk their money connected an acquisition of a life alternatively than leaving it to their children arsenic inheritance. This displacement towards creating lasting memories together has near tourism operators optimistic astir nan increasing request for multi-generational recreation successful 2025.

The Growing Appeal of Legacy Tourism

According to Booking.com’s Travel Predictions report, which surveyed complete 8,000 travellers from nan Asia Pacific region, multi-generational recreation is seen arsenic a measurement to bring families person together. For New Zealanders, this relationship is particularly significant, pinch 57% of respondents indicating that family bonding done recreation is an basal portion of nan experience. In fact, 51% of Kiwi participants shared that nan joyousness and lasting memories generated done these trips are what they cherish most, while 24% worth nan opportunity to study from different generational perspectives.

Booking.com’s insights besides uncover that multi-generational recreation is simply a measurement for families to measurement distant from engaged lives and attraction connected value time, particularly successful idyllic, scenic settings. The inclination is not conscionable astir luxury; it’s astir intentional experiences, meaningful connections, and making memories that last.

Tourism Operators Respond to New Demands

Local tourism operators successful New Zealand person been noticing nan emergence successful request for multi-generational group bookings. In particular, luxury lodges and family-friendly accommodation options person reported a surge successful bookings from Baby Boomers who are eager to stock experiences pinch their children and grandchildren.

Operators astatine On The Point – Lake Rotorua person observed a important summation successful bookings from older travellers. Families are seeking experiences that let them to unplug, reset, and bask extended stays successful serene surroundings. The luxury lodge, which is group wrong a backstage property offering earthy attractions and a petting zoo, is tailored to cater to nan divers interests of family groups, offering thing for each ages. This post-pandemic displacement towards shared family experiences alternatively than worldly wealthiness is expected to proceed gaining momentum successful nan coming years.

Operators judge that nan increasing inclination of bequest tourism is due, successful part, to targeted trading campaigns by Tourism New Zealand. These campaigns purpose to pull high-value world guests during off-peak seasons, specified arsenic May and June. The consequence is an summation successful world visitors, peculiarly from North America, Canada, and Europe. It appears that travellers are seeking to flight nan sound of their mundane lives, making New Zealand a highly desirable destination for multi-generational families.

Extended Stays and Flexibility: A New Normal

As request for multi-generational recreation rises, nan types of vacations being sought besides bespeak a alteration successful really families want to walk clip together. Tourism operators study that family groups are progressively looking for longer stays, pinch bookings often exceeding 2 weeks.

According to manufacture insiders, these extended stays are basal for families who want to genuinely unwind and link pinch 1 another. It is not only astir luxury anymore, but alternatively astir creating experiences that let for heavy individual connections. As families go much focused connected experiences that matter, destinations for illustration New Zealand pinch its unsocial operation of earthy beauty and family-friendly offerings are seeing accrued bookings.

Trent Yeo, Executive Director of Ziptrek Ecotours successful Queenstown, highlighted that multi-generational groups are often attracted to adventure-based activities. The company’s zipline tours, which connection engaging storytelling and acquisition experiences, entreaty to a wide property range, from adventurous children to older family members seeking excitement and engagement. This multi-layered acquisition has proven to beryllium an perfect prime for families looking to enslaved while enjoying nan divers scenery of New Zealand.

Popular Destinations and Growing International Interest

New Zealand destinations for illustration Rotorua, Queenstown, and Taupō person emerged arsenic apical choices for multi-generational families. These areas supply a scope of experiences, from nature-based activities to family-oriented accommodations, making them nan cleanable spots for longer family holidays. The inclination is attracting a increasing number of world travellers, peculiarly from nan Asia Pacific region.

Booking.com has reported that these destinations are peculiarly celebrated pinch families, offering a assortment of unsocial vacation homes that cater to nan needs of multi-generational groups. Many of these accommodations characteristic aggregate bedrooms, kitchens, and laundry facilities, ensuring a comfortable and convenient enactment for families pinch children aliases aged relatives.

The readiness of divers options for accommodation and attractions is besides playing a important domiciled successful nan emergence of multi-generational travel. Families are now prioritising flexibility, comfort, and nan expertise to take from a wide array of activities suitable for each ages. Tourism operators who attraction connected delivering family-friendly experiences will beryllium amended positioned to meet nan expanding request for these types of holidays.

The Shift Towards Adventure and Participatory Experiences

Operators are noting a displacement successful nan types of experiences families are seeking. Rather than opting for passive activities for illustration sightseeing tours aliases autobus trips, multi-generational families are choosing participatory experiences that let everyone to prosecute successful activities together. This inclination is peculiarly noticeable among travellers from Asian countries, including China and India, wherever ample family groups are common.

In consequence to this increasing demand, New Zealand tourism operators are ensuring that their offerings cater to different ages and abilities. Practical accusation astir nan accessibility of activities and nan beingness demands required is crucial, particularly for families pinch aged members. Providing this accusation helps family groups make informed decisions astir nan experiences that champion suit their needs.

The Future of Multi-Generational Travel

As much families take to put successful shared experiences alternatively than worldly wealth, nan multi-generational recreation inclination is expected to proceed increasing successful nan coming years. Tourism operators who recognise this displacement and accommodate their offerings will beryllium well-positioned to cater to nan evolving demands of families. For New Zealand, a state rich | successful earthy beauty and offering divers recreation experiences, nan imaginable to capitalize connected this inclination is enormous.