Guest nights down in September

Total guest nights were down 1.2 percent in September 2010 compared with September 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. International guest nights decreased 1.8 percent in this period while domestic guest nights decreased 0.9 percent. Although down from September 2009, total guest nights were up 1.8 percent compared with September 2008.

Eight of the 12 regions had fewer guest nights in September 2010 than in the previous September. The main contributors to the overall decrease were Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, Waikato, and the West Coast. Four regions, led by Auckland, had increases.

"A small (0.2 percent) increase in Canterbury was driven by Christchurch city, which saw both a big drop in international guest nights and a big rise in the domestic figures," business statistics manager Kathy Connolly said. "This domestic increase ties in with anecdotal evidence of many people needing accommodation in town for various earthquake-related reasons."

By accommodation type, holiday parks (down 10.3 percent) had the largest decrease in guest nights in September 2010, followed by backpackers, and motels. Hotels (up 5.9 percent) were the only accommodation type to record an increase compared with September 2009. Hotels also had the largest share of guest nights in September 2010, at 40 percent.

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

Compared with September 2009: 

• Total guest nights decreased 1.2 percent.
• Holiday parks, backpackers, and motels had decreases in guest nights while hotels had the only increase.
• Guest nights fell in eight of the 12 regions, particularly in Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui and Waikato.
• Auckland had the largest rise in guest nights while Canterbury, despite the earthquake, had a small rise.
• International guest nights decreased 1.8 percent and domestic guest nights decreased 0.9 percent.