International guest nights up in February

Overseas visitors spent 1.7 million guest nights in commercial accommodation in February - up 94,000 or 6 per cent from a year earlier but still 130,000 or 7 per cent down on February 2008.

The Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) data published today also showed a 3 per cent or 45,000 fall in domestic guest nights in February from a year earlier to 1.6m, possibly affected by Waitangi Day falling on the weekend this year.

SNZ said some data indicated that an impact of a weekend Waitangi Day may be lower guest nights, but the effect could not be accurately quantified.

Overall, guest nights in February were 2 per cent higher than a year earlier at 3.3 million, but were 6 per cent down on February 2008.

The guest night trend had risen from December 2008, following a period of decline in 2008, but had been flattening in recent months, SNZ said.

Otago had the largest rise in guest nights, climbing 21,000 or 5 per cent, as international guest nights in the region rose 33,000 or 13 per cent while domestic nights fell 12,000 or 7 per cent.

Wellington had the second largest overall gain, up 17,000 or 7 per cent, with a 15,000 or 10 per cent rise in domestic nights. Auckland's total was up 9000 or 2 per cent.

Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui had the largest overall decline, a fall of 9000 or 6 per cent, while Bay of Plenty had the largest fall in domestic guest nights, down 14,000 or 8 per cent which was more than offset by a rise of 17,000 or 14 per cent in international guest nights.

The accommodation type making the largest gain in February was hotels, up 65,000 or 6 per cent, while holiday parks fell 22,000 or 3 per cent, SNZ said.

Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in February was 64 per cent, compared to 63 per cent in February 2009. Hotels had a 70 per cent occupancy rate with motels at 64 per cent.

- NZPA