Accommodation Growth Continues
Accommodation Survey: April 2000
Accommodation Growth Continues
Guest nights spent in
commercial accommodation were 12 per cent higher in
April
2000 than in April 1999, according to Statistics New
Zealand's
Accommodation Survey. A similar growth in
short-term international visitor
numbers over the same
period contributed to the rise. ANZAC Day fell on
the
Tuesday immediately after Easter this year, coinciding
with the last
day of the school holidays. This is
likely to have contributed to the
strong increase in
domestic guest night numbers.
Nights spent by
international guests in April 2000 were up 16 per
cent
compared to April 1999, while nights spent by
domestic guests were up 10
per cent. Almost 56,000
more North Islanders stayed in the South Island
during
April 2000 than in April 1999. Events such as the
Warbirds Over
Wanaka Air Show are likely to have
contributed to this.
All South Island regions
recorded a rise in guest nights and occupancy
rates in
April, led by the West Coast. Guest night figures for the
North
Island were more variable, with two regions
recording lower guest nights in
April 2000 compared with
the previous April. Northland and Auckland were
the
only North Island regions to record higher occupancy
rates in April
2000.
Guest nights in all
accommodation types were up by at least 9 per cent
this
month. Backpackers/hostels and hosted
accommodation fared the best, both
recording 16 per cent
higher guest night numbers.
The Accommodation Survey
is funded by regional tourism
organisations
throughout New Zealand.
Ian Ewing DEPUTY
GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
END