Guest nights continue to decrease

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation decreased 4 percent in August 2008 compared with August 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. This is the third consecutive month to show a decrease compared with the same month the previous year. Underlying the decreases in total guest nights were similar falls for motels.

The trend in total guest nights has been decreasing since September 2007 but is still higher than a previous low point in January 2006.

Guest nights decreased in four of the five accommodation types in August 2008 compared with August 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 83,000 or 10 percent, followed by caravan parks/camping grounds, down 26,000 or 11 percent. Offsetting these decreases was an increase in hotel guest nights, up 32,000 or 4 percent.

In August 2008, eleven of the twelve regions had fewer guest nights with Otago and Northland showing the largest decreases.