Hawke’s Bay Visitor Numbers Increase

Statistics New Zealand has released the Commercial Accommodation Monitor statistics reporting on the number of guests staying in commercial accommodation for the month of June 2010.

Hawke’s Bay had an overall increase of 6,511 guest nights, up 15% to 49,793 in June 2010 compared to the same month last year. Motels had the largest increase, followed by hotels.

Domestic guest nights increased by 8,076, up 25.1% to 40,203 in June 2010 compared to the same month last year. Domestic guests accounted for 80.7% of all guest nights in the region. While international guest nights decreased by 1,563, down 14% to 9,591.

The average length of stay rose from 1.96 nights to 1.98 nights. Occupancy rates rose 24.2% to 35.6% for June 2010 compared to the same month last year.

For the year ended June 2010, total guest nights decreased 1.5% to 1,035,766. Holiday parks had the largest decrease.

There were 25,094 guest arrivals in June 2010, an increase of 3,028 or 13.7% compared to the same month last year.

New Zealand overall was up by 112,858 guest nights for June 2010 compared to the same month last year. Auckland recorded the largest increase in guest nights (22,000) followed by Bay of Plenty (19,000). Ruapehu recorded the largest decrease in guest nights (4,000) followed by West Coast (3,000) and Nelson-Tasman (3,000).

Venture Hawke’s Bay Regional Promotion and Marketing Manager, Michael Wan says “The increase in guest nights is pleasing given the focus we have had on the domestic market in particular.”

Wan says “It is important however to keep things in perspective. We have more work to do to turn things around for the tourism industry in Hawke’s Bay following several months of decreases.”

ENDS

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