Guest Nights Up 5 Percent

Guest Nights Up 5 Percent

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation showed a 5 percent increase in January 2004 compared with January 2003, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Total monthly guest nights of 4.2 million in January 2004 were the highest recorded since the survey began in July 1996.

The underlying trend in total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation has been increasing since June 1998. In January 2004, the trend level in total guest nights was 3 percent higher than the level in January 2003 and 7 percent higher than the level in January 2002. In January 2004, the trend level in North Island guest nights was 2 percent higher, and the trend level in South Island guest nights was 4 percent higher, than in January 2003.

Eleven of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in January 2004 than in the previous January. The Bay of Plenty region (up 40,000 or 9 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights between the two January months, followed by Hawke's Bay/Gisborne (up 37,000 or 19 percent) and Canterbury (up 32,000 or 6 percent).

Domestic visitors spent 2.5 million guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation in January 2004, up 4 percent compared with January 2003. International guests accounted for 1.6 million guest nights in January 2004, 8 percent more than in January 2003. Guests from Australia (up 64,000 or 22 percent) and UK/Ireland (up 56,000 or 19 percent) recorded the largest absolute increases in international guest nights. Guests from the other country grouping (down 21,000 or 19 percent) and Japan (down 3,000 or 3 percent) recorded the largest absolute decreases in international guest nights.

All accommodation types, except hosted accommodation, recorded increases in guest nights in January 2004 compared with January 2003. Caravan parks/camping grounds (up 99,000 or 7 percent) and motels (up 56,000 or 5 percent) recorded the largest absolute increases in guest nights.

Ian Ewing

Acting Government Statistician

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