KEY POINTS:
For the first time in 15 months the number of guest nights in short term commercial accommodation has fallen from levels a year ago.
Figures out today from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show there were 2.4 million guest nights in October, down 1 per cent on October 2006, but still up 3 per cent on October 2005.
The last time guest nights decreased compared to a year earlier was in July 2006, SNZ said.
The only regions to escape a decline in October compared to a year earlier were in the South Island.
Canterbury had a rise of 10,000 or 2 per cent and Otago was up 2000 or 1 per cent.
The largest decline was in Northland, down 13,000 or 10 per cent, followed by Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui which declined 9000 or 7 per cent, and Waikato with a drop of 6000 or 3 per cent.
All five accommodation types recorded lower guest nights in October than a year earlier, with motels down 12,000 or 1 per cent, caravan parks/camping grounds down 8000 or 2 per cent, and hotels down 7000 or 1 per cent, SNZ said.
The occupancy rate was 46 per cent compared with 48 per cent in October 2006, while accommodation capacity was up 3 per cent. Both measures exclude the caravan parks/camping grounds sector.
The 1.1 million guest nights by international visitors in October was down 1 per cent from a year ago.
The largest decrease was in visitors from Asia, excluding Japan and Korea, which dropped 11,000 or 12 per cent. Next was Britain and Ireland with a fall of 10,000 or 6 per cent, while numbers from Japan fell 6000 or 13 per cent and those from Korea were down 5000 or 12 per cent.
North American visitors, who spent 4000 or 5 per cent, more guest nights had the largest increase.
Domestic guest nights were down 2 per cent to 1.4 million.
- NZPA
