Changing needs of Chinese visitor selection of accommodation in New Zealand

The accommodation industry in New Zealand is a diverse industry with a range of accommodation provisions available to guests; choice varies from small owner-operated establishments to exclusive lodges to multinational chain hotels. This broad range of accommodation provides potential guests with a dilemma when choosing accommodation especially if they are unfamiliar with the classifications. Accommodation managers are also faced with the ever-changing use of resources to attract and retain guests. Chinese tourists, the largest and fastest growing outbound tourist market, have received considerable attention from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO, 2013). Chinese tourist growth in visitor arrivals to New Zealand continues to be strong; despite a drop in early 2019, the market is expected to grow strongly during the forecast period of 2018 to 2024 (Ministry of Business, 2018).