Guest nights creep up in November

Photo / Wairarapa Times Age

The total number of guest nights in commercial accommodation edged up 0.5 per cent in November from a year earlier to 2.7 million, but fell 4 per cent from November 2007.

Figures from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show that among the regions Otago had the biggest improvement in November with a rise of 23,000 or 7 per cent, while Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman was up 7000 or 5 per cent, and Southland lifted 6000 or 8 per cent.

Auckland had the biggest decrease, with a drop of 18,000 or 3 per cent, and Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui was down 14,000 or 10 per cent.

The latest figures continue a run of sizeable rises for Otago that started in June, while for Southland the series of improving figures started in August.

International visitor guest nights rose 22,000 or 2 per cent from November 2008 to 1.3m, with Otago showing a rise of 15,000 or 8 per cent, Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman up 8000 or 12 per cent, and Southland up 7000 or 15 per cent. Wellington had the largest decline, with a fall of 9000 or 10 per cent.

Domestic guest nights fell 10,000 or 1 per cent to 1.4m, with Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui down 14,000 or 13 per cent, Auckland down 12,000 or 5 per cent, and Waikato down 4000 or 3 per cent.

Otago recorded a rise of 8000 or 7 per cent in domestic guest nights in November, compared to a year earlier, Northland was up 6000 or 11 per cent, and Wellington up 5000 or 4 per cent.

SNZ said the trend for total guest nights had been rising in 2009 but flattening in recent months, and was now 2 per cent above the previous low in December 2008.

Guest nights in backpacker accommodation rose 26,000 or 7 per cent in November from a year earlier, holiday parks were up 14,000 or 3 per cent, but motels slipped 6000 or 1 per cent and hotels fell 22,000 or 2 per cent.

Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in November was 52 per cent, compared with 53 per cent a year earlier.

- NZPA