Snow helps tourism in South but North suffers

A strong ski season helped boost commercial accommodation nights in the South Island in August but the gain was wiped out by a drop in the number of nights spent in North Island hotels, motels and camping grounds.

Statistics NZ figures out yesterday show guest nights were up 4 per cent in the South Island but fell 3 per cent in the North Island compared with August last year.

Auckland was hit the hardest, falling 8 per cent or 32,000 nights, followed by the Bay of Plenty, which was down 6 per cent or 10,000 nights. But the Otago region, helped by Queenstown, had the biggest boost,up 6 per cent or 22,000 nights. Canterbury was also up 4 per cent or 14,000 nights.

International and domestic guest nights were down in the North Island - international visitors dropping 7 per cent or 25,000 nights. In the South Island international guest nights were up 6 per cent or 25,000 nights. However, overall use of commercial accommodation was up. Motels led the increase in more guest nights, up 1 per cent or 7000 nights, but hotel nights, hosted accommodation and camping grounds were also up.

Backpacker/hostels were down 5 per cent or 16,000 nights. But occupancy rates fell across the board, dropping from an average of 42 per cent last August to 40 per cent this year as supply of accommodation was boosted by 2 per cent.

WINNERS & LOSERS

August accommodation
Otago: +6 per cent (or 22,000 nights)
Canterbury: +4 per cent (or 14,000 nights)
Auckland: -8 per cent (or 32,000 nights)
Bay of Plenty: -6 per cent (or 10,000 nights)