Accommodation Results Mixed

Accommodation Survey: November 2001

Guests spent 2.3 million nights in short-term commercial accommodation in November 2001, according to latest figures from Statistics New Zealand. This figure is 2 percent above the November 2000 level. However, this increase was not shared by all accommodation types. While guest nights spent in caravan parks/camping grounds (up 11 percent) and backpackers/hostels (up 9 percent) increased significantly, there were declines of 10 percent for hosted and 4 percent for hotel accommodation. Motel guest nights increased by 3 percent over the same period.

Guest nights in the North Island were 3 percent higher in November 2001 than in November 2000, while South Island guest nights remained virtually unchanged. This is the first month since February 2000 that the North Island has had higher guest night growth than the South Island when compared to the same month in the previous year.

Of the 12 regions, only two recorded guest night growth of 5 percent or more in November 2001, when compared with November 2000. These regions were the Hawke's Bay/Gisborne region (up 10 percent) and the Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman region (up 8 percent).

Nine of the 12 regions recorded falls in occupancy rates, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, in November 2001, when compared with November 2000. Southland, Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman and Waikato were the only regions to record growth when comparing the two November months.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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