Kiwis help boost city guest figures

WELCOME: The growth in visitor numbers continues for Wanganui. PHOTO/ 100715WCBRCFLO01

Wanganui's May guest nights were up for the 14th month in a row - delivering a further boost for the city's tourism sector.

Statistics New Zealand's latest accommodation survey reveals Wanganui guest nights were up 9.8 per cent for the year ended May 2015, compared to the year ended May 2014.

The survey records the number of guests staying in hotels, motels, backpacker accommodation, and holiday parks in New Zealand. Each guest night is equivalent to one guest spending one night at an establishment.

Visit Whanganui promotion and marketing manager Lyn Cheyne said that the continued visitor growth was great for Wanganui.

"Anecdotally, accommodation providers have said they have noticed an increase in occupancy rates, retailers and art studios and galleries an increase in visitors, and the i-Site has certainly seen an increase in visitor numbers and bookings over the last summer period," she said.

"The other comment I've heard is that the summer season extended longer this year before an anticipated seasonal drop in numbers."

Ms Cheyne, also the promotion and marketing manager for Whanganui & Partners, said some people came to Wanganui because they were looking for new places to visit and new experiences.

"Wanganui's promotion and activity has reminded them we have a lot to offer. We're also refreshing people's memories that we're a very accessible destination."

Domestic tourists were still the dominant market, she said.

"Wanganui traditionally has visitors mainly from other parts of New Zealand [up to 85 per cent] and fewer international visitors. This has continued with trends for the last 14 months also showing percentage increases in the number of domestic visitors.

"People around Wanganui in the tourism sector have commented on an increasing number of visitors from Wellington and Taranaki, i-Site visitor statistics also show numbers from Auckland are just as good."

Nationally, guest nights were up 5.5 per cent year-on-year.

As in the previous three months, most of the rise for May was from international guest nights, which were up by 11 per cent.

Domestic guest nights were up 5.2 per cent.

Motel Association of New Zealand chief executive Michael Baines said the figures reflected a strong year for tourism so far.

"We've had an awful lot of Aussies coming, and the economic recovery in Europe has brought some, but the English market - that disappeared for a while," he said.

"There's also good and strong continual growth out of the United States and year-on-year growth from China."

Domestic tourism was also positive, he said.

"No one should underestimate the power of domestic tourists.

"Lower fuel prices, job retention and a more positive view on the economy are giving people the confidence and ability to explore."

The recent batch of bad weather around the country had not been too disruptive, he said.

"These things happen every year at different times.

"Bad weather does impact on commercial travellers, because it can mean they just don't go, but I don't think this winter is any quieter than normal.

"I'd say it's about the same or better than last year."