Chinese New Year in Queenstown: A Boost for Vacation Rentals

As the Chinese New Year festive period wraps up, let’s look at what is and how it benefits Queenstown.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most significant holiday on the Chinese calendar and is celebrated by millions around the world. The holiday follows the lunar calendar, meaning its date shifts each year, typically falling in late January or February. This year, the celebrations began quite early, with the official holiday period running from January 29 to February 6, a total of 8 days.

Did you know that Queenstown was the top-searched destination for Chinese travellers on Booking.com for this year’s Lunar New Year period! This surge in interest highlights Queenstown’s growing reputation as a must-visit location during this festive season, solidifying its position as a top choice for Chinese tourists seeking a special holiday experience. Queenstown's reputation for great hospitality, stunning photography spots, and its strong presence on Chinese social media platforms contribute to its growing popularity among Chinese tourists.

In terms of travel behaviour, many Chinese travellers use this holiday as an opportunity for family reunions, often traveling in multi-generational groups. Queenstown lends itself perfectly to this as there is plenty to do for all ages. The adventure activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving, and jet boating appeal to younger Chinese travellers, while older visitors often enjoy the picturesque scenery, clean air, and tranquillity of lake cruises, and scenic drives. The bucket-list spots for the whole family often include Arrowtown, with its Chinese gold mining history, and exploring Glenorchy for its beautiful mountain scenery.

Chinese visitors typically aim to experience a few key destinations during their South Island trip, only staying in each location a few days. For us at Staysouth, the Luna New Year period provides a solid boost to occupancy across our properties, often made up of a few short stays of two to three nights each. 

For us the Luna New Year represents a great opportunity to extend the peak summer tourist season. While December and early January see a surge in holiday visitors, the influx of Chinese tourists in late January and February helps sustain strong occupancy rates before the quieter autumn months arrive. With Queenstown ranking as the most searched destination for Chinese travellers during this period, we are well positioned to capitalise on this interest, ensuring we make the most of this high-demand travel window.

As Queenstown continues to attract international visitors, embracing the opportunities presented by Chinese New Year can help vacation rental owners optimise their bookings and revenue during what is traditionally the tail end of the summer peak.

If you are looking to improve your short term rental occupancy and revenue and want more insights like this, the Staysouth team is here to help, just pick up the phone and give us a call.