South Island leads August guest nights increase

Guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation in the South Island were up 10 percent in August2007 compared with August 2006, Statistics New Zealand said today.

This took the South Island's share oftotal guest nights to 42 percent in August 2007.

The trend in South Island guest nights has been increasingsince August 2005, with the rate of increase in recent months being higher than average.

Guest nights in the North Island showed a 4 percent increase in August 2007 compared with August 2006.

The trend in guest nights for the North Island has been increasing since January 2006, but the trend hasbeen flattening in recent months.

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were up 6 percent in August 2007 comparedwith August 2006.

The trend in total guest nights has been increasing since January 2006.

Ten of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in August 2007 compared with August 2006, with theCanterbury, Auckland and Otago regions showing the largest increases.

All five of the South Island regionsrecorded more guest nights.

Four of the five accommodation types had more guest nights in August 2007 than in August 2006, withmotels and hotels recording the largest increases.