KEY POINTS:
The number of nights visitors are spending in short term commercial accommodation is almost back up to that seen two years ago during the British and Irish Lions rugby tour.
Figures out today from Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) put total guest nights in June at 1.8 million, 6 per cent higher than June 2006, and just 1 per cent down on June 2005 when Lions' supporters gave the tourism industry a midwinter boost.
The trend in total guest nights had been increasing since January 2006 after a flat period that started in November 2004, SNZ said.
The rise in guest nights during June coincides with 4 per cent increases in short term overseas visitor arrivals for June and May, compared to the same months in 2006.
During June, Auckland had the largest absolute increase in guest nights compared to June 2006, with an increase of 27,000 or 8 per cent.
Canterbury was next with a rise of 23,000 or 9 per cent, while Waikato with a small fall was the only region to record a decrease.
Among accommodation types, motels had the largest absolute increase with a rise for June of 32,000 guest nights or 5 per cent, compared to June 2006.
Next were backpackers/hostels, with a rise of 28,000 or 11 per cent, while of the five accommodation types in the survey, only hosted accommodation had a drop, and of just half a per cent.
In the year to June, total guest nights were up 4 per cent on the previous 12 months, to 32.5 million.
On the annual basis, Auckland had the largest absolute increase, up 255,000 or 5 per cent, followed by Wellington up 177,000 or 7 per cent and Bay of Plenty up 158,000 or 5 per cent.
Hotels had the largest absolute annual increase among the accommodation types with a rise of 365,000 guest nights, a 4 per cent rise.
Next were motels up 344,000 or 3 per cent for the year, then caravan parks/camping grounds up 268,000 or 4 per cent.
- NZPA
