KEY POINTS:
Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 4.6 per cent higher in December 2006 than December 2005, and 1 per cent higher than in December 2004, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.
In the North Island, guest nights were up 4.7 per cent, and in the South Island up 4.4 per cent.
Seasonally adjusted, the national figures were down 1.4 per cent from November, with North Island numbers down 2.2 per cent and South Island numbers down 0.3 per cent.
Eleven of 12 regions recorded more guest nights in December 2006 than December 2005, SNZ said.
Bay of Plenty led the way with a 27,000 (9 per cent) increase, followed by Canterbury, up 27,000 (6 per cent), Auckland, up 21,000 (4 per cent), and Wellington, up 13,000 (7 per cent).
Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui was the only region to record fewer guest nights in December 2006 compared to December 2005, with numbers down 3000 (2 per cent).
Guest nights for the 2006 calendar year were 1 per cent higher than in 2005, with six of 12 regions recording rises.
Wellington had the best growth with an increase of 121,000 (5 per cent), followed by Otago, up 98,000 (2 per cent), and Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, up 48,000 (3 per cent).
The largest decrease for the year was in Auckland, with a fall of 58,000 (1 per cent), followed by Canterbury and Bay of Plenty, which were both down 26,000 (1 per cent).
All five accommodation types recorded more guest nights in December 2006, than the same month in 2005.
Hotels, up 59,000 (7 per cent) and motels, up 43,000 (5 per cent) had the largest absolute increases.
For the calendar year, four of the five accommodation types had more guest nights in 2006 than 2005.
Backpackers/hostels had the largest rise, up 124,000 (3 per cent), followed by motels, up 120,000 (1 per cent). Caravan parks/camping grounds was the only accommodation type with a decrease for the year, down 121,000 (2 per cent).
- NZPA
