KEY POINTS:
Guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation rose 6 per cent in February on the same month a year earlier, according to Statistics New Zealand today.
Guest nights rose 7 per cent in the North Island from a year ago, while in the South Island they rose 5 per cent.
Eleven of 12 regions recorded a rise in guest nights compared with a year earlier, with Auckland and Wellington showing the largest increases.
Statistics New Zealand said the trend in total guest nights has been increasing since January 2006 after a flat period that began in late 2004.
All five accommodation types showed more guest nights in February than in February 2006 with caravan parks/camping grounds and motels showing the largest increases.
The February 2007 occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 68 per cent, compared with 67 per cent in February 2006.
The highest occupancy rate was recorded in the Wellington region, followed by Otago and Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman.
- NZPA
