South Island Guest Nights up in September

South Island Guest Nights up in September

South Island hotels and backpackers had a busy September, while North Island guest nights dipped, Stats NZ said today. Total New Zealand guest nights for September 2017 rose 1.4 percent on September 2016.

The South Island had a busy month for short-term commercial accommodation in September 2017. When compared with September 2016, the South Island recorded increases for both international and domestic guest nights, up 3.4 percent and 7.0 percent, respectively. South Island hotels and backpackers recorded the largest increases in guest nights, with motels and holiday parks also increasing.

South Island domestic guest nights increased more than international guest nights, and affected hotels significantly more than the other accommodation types. International guest nights increased to a lesser extent and the increase was more evenly spread across the accommodation types.

“South Island guest nights stood out this month,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. “When compared with the same month of the previous year, South Island guest nights have increased six months in a row, following a brief period of falls influenced by the Kaikōura earthquake.

“The continuous growth over the last six months has been reflected in almost every region in the South Island,” Ms McKenzie said.

In the year ended September 2017, 39 million guest nights were spent in accommodation in New Zealand – 15.8 million in the South Island, and 23.2 million in the North Island.

ENDS

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