International guest nights continue to recover

Overnight stays by international visitors in commercial accommodation were up 6 percent in February 2010 compared with the previous February, Statistics New Zealand said today. Over the same period, domestic guest night numbers were down 3 percent, resulting in a 2 percent increase in total guest nights.

"This is the sixth month in a row that international guest nights have risen," said business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver. "However, numbers are still 7 percent lower than in February 2008."

Three of the four accommodation types had more guest nights in February 2010 compared with the same month last year. Hotels had the largest increase, up 6 percent, followed by motels, up 1 percent.

Backpackers had similar guest nights to the previous February. Holiday parks had the only decrease, down 3 percent.

Nine of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in February 2010 than in the previous February. Otago and Wellington had the largest increases while Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui had the largest fall in guest nights over the same period.

The Accommodation Survey records guests staying in hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks in New Zealand each month.

Geoff Bascand
12 April 2010
Government Statistician