Lions tour hangover results in guest night fall

Guest nights in short-term accommodation were 7 per cent lower in June than a year earlier due to big boost in tourism provided by the 2005 British and Irish Lions rugby tour, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.

The trend in total guest nights has flattened since October 2004, following a period of increases that began in July 1998, SNZ said.

Guest nights were 3 per cent lower in the North Island in June and 13 per cent lower in the South Island, compared with the previous June.

All 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights, with Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui and Bay of Plenty recording the largest decreases.

These regions all hosted Lions rugby matches during June last year.

All five accommodation types recorded fewer guest nights in June 2006 than the previous June, with hotels and caravan parks/camping grounds recording the largest decreases.

Guest nights for the June year were 1 per cent lower than for the previous June year.

Eight of the 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights, with Canterbury, Auckland and Bay of Plenty recording the largest decreases, and Otago and Wellington the largest increases.

Backpackers/hostels was the only accommodation type to record more guest nights in the June year than in the previous June year.

The largest decrease was recorded by caravan parks/camping grounds.

- NZPA