Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group
The AUT Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group leads regenerative tourism intelligence across the Pacific region, delivering rigorous, data-driven insights that empower governments, industry stakeholders and communities to build resilient, sustainable tourism futures.
Our vision
Leading sustainable and regenerative tourism insights, advancing knowledge, shaping Pacific tourism futures.
Our mission
The Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group advances sustainable and regenerative tourism in the Pacific by delivering rigorous, evidence-based intelligence that addresses the region’s diverse priorities.
We work in close partnership with governments, industry stakeholders, and communities to design and implement robust data collection and analysis, ensuring tourism policy, planning, and investment are informed by reliable insights. With expertise spanning tourism economics, visitor experience, industry performance, and community perspectives, we provide actionable knowledge that supports resilient, inclusive, and culturally grounded tourism futures across Pacific destinations.
- Tourism economics – Measuring visitor expenditure patterns and their economic contributions
- Visitor experience and satisfaction – Monitoring perceptions, satisfaction levels and travel behaviours
- Industry performance – Assessing tourism business performance and resilience through industry surveys
- Community perspectives – Evaluating community awareness, attitudes, and aspirations related to tourism
- Tourism decision support systems – Integrating diverse data sources to support strategic planning and policy development
- International Visitor Surveys (IVS) – Core data collection in each destination, capturing visitor satisfaction, spending and experience
- Tourism industry surveys – Providing a business perspective on tourism performance and operational challenges
- Community attitudes surveys – National-level assessments of how communities perceive and value tourism
- Tourism decision support systems – Developing integrated tools that combine visitor, industry, and community data for informed decision-making
Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI)
The Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) is the flagship regional research and monitoring programme designed to fill the long-standing gap in reliable, comparable, and timely tourism data across Pacific Island countries. Funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and delivered in partnership with regional and national stakeholders, PTDI establishes coordinated, long-term data systems that support evidence-based decision-making for governments, industry, and communities, ensuring tourism growth aligns with sustainable development.
In 2023–2024, operational responsibilities were transitioned to the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), embedding regional ownership and long-term sustainability through training, database transfer, and technical guidance. The AUT Pacific Tourism Futures Research Group continues to enhance the value of PTDI data through analysis, research, and knowledge sharing across the region.
Origins & expansion – The initiative began in the Cook Islands, where the IVS has run continuously since 2012 alongside business and community surveys.
Impact – PTDI outputs inform national tourism strategies, destination marketing, infrastructure planning, and community engagement, ensuring tourism growth aligns with sustainable development goals. Tailored training is provided for National Tourism Offices (NTOs), National Statistics Offices, and other partners in survey design, data analysis and reporting
2015: Expanded to Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia (Yap) with IFC/World Bank and US Department of Interior support.
2017: New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade extended the programme to Samoa, Niue, and Solomon Islands, and assumed funding for Vanuatu.
2017: IFC/World Bank introduced the IVS in Papua New Guinea, now funded by the PNG Government.
2021: Onboarded Tonga, Kiribati, and Timor-Leste.
Resources and outputs of the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative
Select a country below to learn more about the resources that have been developed.
International visitor survey
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2022 to June 2023
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report – April 2023 to June 2023
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report – January 2023 to March 2023
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - October 2022 to December 2022.pdf
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - July 2022 to September 2022.pdf
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - April 2022 to June 2022
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - Jan 2022 to March 2022
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - July 2021 to August 2021
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Report - May 2021 to June 2021
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2019 to March 2020
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2020 to March 2020
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2019 to December 2019
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2019 to September 2019
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2018 to June 2019
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2018 to September 2018
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2018 to December 2018
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2019 to March 2019
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2019 to June 2019
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2017 to June 2018
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2017 to September 2017
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2017 to December 2017
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2018 to March 2018
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2018 to June 2018
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2016 to June 2017
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2016 to September 2016
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2016 to December 2016
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2017 to March 2017
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2017 to June 2017
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2015 to June 2016
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2015 to September 2015
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2015 to December 2015
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2016 to March 2016
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2016 to June 2016
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2014 to June 2015
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2014 to September 2014
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2014 to December 2014
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2015 to March 2015
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2015 to June 2015
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - July 2013 to June 2014
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2013 to September 2013
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2013 to December 2013
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2014 to March 2014
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2014 to June 2014
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - April 2012 to March 2013
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - April 2012 to June 2012
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - July 2012 to September 2012
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - October 2012 to December 2012
- Cook Islands Visitor Survey - Quarterly - January 2013 to March 2013
Presentations
- Aitutaki Dimensions: International Visitors and Community Attitudes (November 2019)
- Cook Islands - International Visitors, Business Confidence and Community Attitudes (USP Campus, November 2019)
Business survey and confidence index
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2023
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2022
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2021
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2020
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2019 - Report 1
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2019 - Report 2
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2018 - Report 1
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2018 - Report 2
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2017 - Report 1
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2017 - Report 2
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2016 - Report 1
- Cook Islands Business Survey and Confidence Index - 2016 - Report 2
Cook Islands community attitudes toward tourism survey
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2023
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2021
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2020
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2020 (Summary)
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2019
- Cook Islands - Community Attitudes Survey - 2018
Datamining
- Cook Islands - IVS Insights - Aitutaki - NZ Visitors - 2012 to 2020
- Cook Islands - IVS Insights - New South Wales visitors travelling with Air NZ - 2014 to 2021
- Cook Islands - IVS Insights - New South Wales visitors - 2014 to 2021
- Cook Islands - IVS Insights - California visitors - 2014 to 2020
- Cook Islands - IVS Insights - Access Tourism 70+ visitors - 2016 to 2021
- Cook Islands - NZ Travel Bubble Visitors - May 2021 to June 2021
- Cook Islands - Datamining for Marine Ecosystem Services Valuation - December 2020
- Cook Islands - Covid-19 Visitor Insights - September 2020
- Cook Islands - Soft Adventure Visitor Characteristics - 2016 to 2019
- Cook Islands - Wedding Party and Honeymoon Segments 2012-2017 - August 2018
- Cook Islands - Pearl Shopper Characteristics - July 2018
- Cook Islands - Wedding Party Visitor Characteristics - January 2017
- Cook Islands - Soft Adventure Visitor Characteristics - January 2017
- Cook Islands - Te Maeva Nui Event Analysis - April 2016
- Cook Islands - Visitor Characteristics by Accommodation Type - August 2015
- Cook Islands - Outer Island Visitor Characteristics and Impacts - August 2015
- Cook Islands - Market Segment Analysis - October 2014
International visitor survey
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Quarterly Report - January 2023 - March 2023
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2023 to June 2023
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Infographic - January 2023 to June 2023 Summary
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - July 2022 to December 2022
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Quarterly Report - July 2022 to September 2022
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Data snapshot and Covid Responses - July 2022
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Quarterly Report - January 2020 to March 2020
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Annual Report - January 2019 to December 2019
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Quarterly Report - July 2019 to Sept 2019
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Half Year Report - January 2019 to June 2019
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Quarterly Report - January 2019 to March 2019
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Annual Report - January 2018 to December 2018
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Quarterly Report - July 2018 to September 2018
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Training Workshop - March 2019
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2018 to June 2018
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Quarterly Report - January 2018 to March 2018
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Annual Report - January 2017 to December 2017
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Annual Report - January 2016 to December 2016
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey – Annual Report - November 2014 to November 2015
- Vanuatu International Visitor Survey Instrument
Business survey
- Vanuatu Business Confidence Index - 2019 Report
- Vanuatu Business Confidence Index - Survey Instrument
Datamining
- Vanuatu IVS – New Zealand - Visitor Satisfaction Segmentation - 2018 to 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – Australia - Visitor Satisfaction Segmentation - 2018 to 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – New Caledonia - Visitor Trends and Seasonality - 2016 to 2019
- Vanuatu IVS – New Caledonia - Visitor Satisfaction Segmentation - 2015 to 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – New Caledonia - Visitor Insights - 2015 to 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – Frequent Visitor Characteristics - Holiday Market Breakdown - January 2015 to March 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – Repeat Visitor Insights - January 2015 to March 2020
- Vanuatu IVS – Visitor Perspectives on the Environment (Tourism Forum - 26 Aug 2019)
- Vanuatu IVS - New Caledonia Market - January 2015 to December 2018
- Vanuatu IVS - 70+ Visitor Market - November 2018
- Vanuatu IVS - Outer Islands Insights – Tanna and Santo - January 2017 to December 2017
- Vanuatu IVS - Visitor Characteristics by Accommodation Type - January 2015 to December 2017
International visitor survey
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - August 2022 to July 2023
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Savaii and Upolu Visitors - August 2022 to January 2023
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - August 2022 to January-2023
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Report - January 2020 to March 2020
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Savaii and Upolu Visitors - January 2020 to March 2020
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - January 2019 to December 2019
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Savaii and Upolu Visitors - January 2019 to December 2019
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Savaii and Upolu Visitors - January 2019 to June 2019
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2019 to June 2019
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Annual Summary Report - January 2018 to December 2018
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Report - No Appendix - January 2018 to December 2018
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Savaii and Upolu Visitors - January 2018 to December 2018 - (Tourism Forum)
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Report - January 2018 to June 2018 - STIA Apia - Oct 2018
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Report - January 2018 to June 2018 - Savaii Presentation - Oct 2018
- Samoa Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2018 to June 2018
- Samoa International Visitor Survey Instrument
Business survey
- Samoa Tourism Business Survey - (August to December 2019)
- Samoa Business Survey - STA Workshop (July 2019)
- Samoa Business Confidence Index - Survey Instrument
Training
- Training - Online Surveys using Qualtrics Workshop (October 2019)
- Training - Presenting Data using Infographics with Piktochart (October 2019)
- Training - Excel Data file for Infographics with Piktochart (October 2019)
Datamining
- Samoa IVS - Snapshots - COVID-Response and Comparisons - Aug to October 2022
- Samoa IVS - Insights - New Zealand Visitors - 2018 to 2020
- Samoa IVS - Insights - Australia Visitors - 2018 to 2020
- Samoa IVS - Datamining - Wellington, Christchurch and Melbourne Visitors - 2018 to 2020
- Samoa IVS - Visitor Perspectives on the Apia Waterfront - January 2020 to March 2020
- Samoa IVS - Visitor Characteristics by Accommodation Type - January 2018 to June 2019
- Samoa IVS - Apia Water Front Insights - January to December 2018
- Samoa IVS - Length of Stay and Market Expenditure - January 2018 to December 2018
- Samoa IVS - Lalomanu Visitor Profile 2018
International visitor survey
- Niue - Visitor Survey – Annual Report – July 2022 to June 2023
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - July 2022 to December 2022
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Covid Response and Comments - July 2022
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Results Report - October 2019 to March 2020
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Public Presentation, Niue Tourism Office - 27 November 2019
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Results Report - April 2019 to September 2019
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Results Report - October 2018 to March 2019
- Niue Tourism Forum - PTDI Presentation - October 2017 - March 2019
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Results Report - October 2017 to September 2018
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Presentation - October 2017 to September 2018
- Niue - Visitor Survey – Six month report - October 2017 to March 2018
- Niue - International Visitor Survey Instrument
Business survey
- Niue - Business Confidence Index Survey - March 2023
- Niue - Business Confidence Index Survey - February 2019
- Niue - Business Confidence Index - Survey Instrument
Community survey
- Niue - Community Attitudes Toward Tourism - 2020 Report
- Niue - Community Attitudes Toward Tourism - Survey Instrument
Datamining
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Visitor Insights - Visiting Friends and Relatives - 2017 to 2020
- Niue - Visitor Survey - NZ Dive Market Insights - October 2017 to March 2020
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Time Series Data - October 2017 to March 2020
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Time Series - October 2017 to September 2019
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Australia Market Datamining (2017 to 2019)
- Niue - Visitor Survey - Time Series - October 2017 to March 2019
International visitor survey
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Annual Report - July 2022 to June 2023
- Solomon Islands - Visitor survey - July 2022 to December 2022
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - January 2020 to March 2020
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Annual Report - January 2019 to December 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2019 to June 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Annual Report - January 2018 to December 2018
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Results Summary - January 2018 to December 2018
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Half Year Report - January 2018 to June 2018
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Presentation - January 2018 to June 2018
- Solomon Islands International Visitor Survey Instrument
Presentations
Domestic expatriate tourism
Business survey
- Solomon Islands - Tourism Business Survey - December 2020 to February 2021
- Solomon Islands Business Confidence Index - Survey Instrument
Datamining
- Solomon Islands - IVS - Snapshot - July 2022 to September 2022
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Repeat Visitor Characteristics - 2018 to 2020
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Social Media Insights - 2018 to 2020
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Visitor Characteristics by Accommodation Type - January 2018 to March 2020
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Western Province Visitors - January 2019 to December 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Choiseul or Isabel Visitors - January 2019 to December 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Jan to June 2019 Broader Insights - Public Workshop (Nov 2019)
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Ecolodge Visitors - January 2019 to December 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Munda Visitors - January 2019 to December 2019
- Solomon Islands - Visitor Survey - Western Province visitor comparison to Honiara and Guadalcanal - January 2018 to June 2019
The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute was engaged by the IFC/World Bank to conduct the Papua New Guinea International Visitor survey from 2017.
NZTRI worked with the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to collect data on the ground.
The data collected from the survey provides insight into the travel trends and market needs of international visitors. Information collected from the survey has helped Papua New Guinea develop its national tourism policy.
To learn more about this project you can also visit PNG Tourism Promotions Authority.
International Visitor Survey
- Infographic 2022 - 2023
- Papua New Guinea Visitor Survey-Annual Year Report-June 2022 to May 2023
- Papua New Guinea Visitor Survey-Half Year Report-June to December 2022
- Infographic 2019
- International visitor survey 2020
- International visitor survey 2019
- International visitor survey 2019 (Jan-Jun)
- International visitor survey 2018
- International visitor survey 2018 (Jan-Jun)
- International visitor survey 2017
- International visitor survey 2017 (Jan-Jun)
Papua New Guinea informational videos
Yap is a small island state and part of the Federated States of Micronesia. The Yap Visitors Bureau and NZTRI partnered from 2015 on to facilitate an International Visitors Survey. NZTRI also undertook the development of the Visit Yap App, a mobile app for visitors to the island.
NZTRI involvement in this research
The research information on this web page was formerly conducted under the auspices of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI).