Leap year and warm weather boost guest nights

Leap year and warm weather boost guest nights

12 April 2016

National guest nights for February 2016 were 7.0 percent higher than in February 2015, Statistics New Zealand said today. This February, the extra day for the leap year and warm weather contributed to the rise.

"The rise for February follows a record high in January," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said. "Guest nights have been rising for almost two years."

For February 2016, compared with February 2015:

• North Island guest nights were up 6.5 percent, and South Island guest nights were up 7.8 percent.

• Domestic guest nights were up 6.1 percent, and international guest nights were up 8.0 percent.

• All 12 regional areas had more guest nights.

• All four accommodation types had more guest nights.

For the year ended February 2016, national guest nights were up 5.2 percent from the February 2015 year.

The trend for national guest nights continued to rise in February. Seasonally adjusted guest nights rose 2.0 percent, following a small fall in January.

The Accommodation Survey collects data for guests staying in hotels, motels, backpacker accommodation, and holiday parks in New Zealand each month. Private accommodation is excluded.

See Accommodation Survey: February 2016 for more information on monthly accommodation statistics.

See International Travel and Migration: February 2016 for visitor numbers.

Ends

© Scoop Media