Accommodation stats up 5pc in October

International visitors spent 5 per cent more nights in commercial accommodation in October than a year earlier, even as domestic guest nights fell 2 per cent.

Overall, the 2.5 million guest nights in October were up 0.5 per cent from a year earlier, and 5 per cent up on October 2007, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.

The 1m international guest nights in October were an increase of 47,000 on a year earlier.

Canterbury had 13,000 or 7 per cent more international guest nights, Otago was up by 11,000 or 7 per cent, and Bay of Plenty added 11,000 or 14 per cent.

The only region to record a fall in international guest nights was Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, with a fall of 5000 or 18 per cent.

The 1.5m domestic guest nights were down 35,000 from a year earlier, with seven of the 12 regions in the survey recording falls.

Bay of Plenty was down 15,000 or 10 per cent, Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui down 8000 or 6 per cent, Hawke's Bay/Gisborne down 7000 or 8 per cent, and Waikato down 7000 or 4 per cent.

Overall guest nights were up in seven regions, with Otago up 12,000 or 4 per cent, Canterbury up 10,000 or 2 per cent, and Southland up 6000 or 10 per cent, while Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui fell 13,000 or 8 per cent, SNZ said.

Guest nights in hotels rose 18,000 or 2 per cent in October, compared to a year earlier, while backpackers lifted 16,000 or 5 per cent, motels fell 12,000 or 1 per cent, and holiday parks slipped 11,000 or 3 per cent.

Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in October was 46 per cent, compared to 48 per cent a year earlier, while capacity was up 3 per cent.

- NZPA