October guest nights decrease

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation decreased 1 percent in October 2007compared with October 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today.

This is the first month since July 2006 todecrease compared with the same month of the previous year.

All five accommodation types had lower guest nights in October 2007 compared with October 2006, withmotels recording the largest decrease.

This is the first month since June 2006 that all five accommodationtypes have decreased compared with the same month of the previous year.

Guest nights in the North Island in October 2007 were 2 percent lower than in October 2006, while guestnights in the South Island were unchanged.

Ten of the twelve regions had lower guest nights in October2007.

Guest nights spent by international visitors were 1 percent lower in October 2007 than in October 2006.

Thelargest decreases in guest nights were recorded for visitors from Asia and the United Kingdom/Ireland.

The Auckland region accounted for the largest decrease in international guest nights. Domestic guest nights decreased 2 percent over the same period.

The largest decrease in domestic guestnights was in the Otago region