Guest nights increase in November for all accommodation types

Guest nights increased for all five types of short-term commercial accommodation in November 2007compared with November 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The largest increases were for hotelsand motels, both up 20,000 or 2 percent.Total guest nights were 2.8 million in November 2007, a 2 percent increase compared with November2006.

International visitors made up half of the total guest nights.

The Auckland, Canterbury andOtago regions recorded the highest number of international guest nights.

New Zealanders made up the other half of total guest nights, with the Auckland, Canterbury and Wellingtonregions recording the highest numbers of domestic guest nights.In November 2007, over two-thirds of guest nights in the West Coast and Southland were internationalvisitors.

The region which showed the highest proportion of domestic guest nights was Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, with New Zealanders contributing three-quarters of the region's total guest nights.

Guest nights in the North and South Islands both increased 2 percent in November 2007 compared withNovember 2006.

Half of the twelve regions recorded increased guest nights, with the Auckland andCanterbury regions showing the largest increases.

The Waikato region recorded the largest decrease inguest nights