New Zealand offered Chinese tourists an easier path to visit, and they’re loving it

New Zealand has seen a surge in Chinese tourists since it began testing an easier pathway for visitors via Australia. The government began a 12-month trial in November that exempted Chinese and Pacific people from visa requirements if they were travelling from Australia. Officials estimated that after six months the new option has resulted in a 40 per cent increase in Chinese visitor arrivals, Tourism Minister Louise Upston said on Thursday in Wellington. Tourism is New Zealand’s second-largest.