North Island Guest Nights Up 14 Percent

Accommodation Survey: May 2002

North Island Guest Nights Up 14 Percent

Guests spent 14 percent more nights in short-term commercial accommodation in the North Island in May 2002, when compared with May 2001, according to Statistics New Zealand. South Island guest nights were up 6 percent when comparing the two May months. This is the seventh consecutive month that the North Island has recorded higher guest night growth than the South Island when compared with the same month in the previous year. Prior to this, guest nights had increased at a faster rate in the South Island than in the North Island for 20 consecutive months.

All regions recorded higher guest nights in May 2002 than in May 2001, with guests spending a total of 1.7 million nights in short-term commercial accommodation, 11 percent more than May 2001.

All accommodation types recorded higher guest nights in May 2002 than in May 2001. The largest increases were for caravan parks/camping grounds and backpackers/hostels, both up 20 percent. The North Island accounted for more than three-quarters of the increase in caravan parks/camping ground guest nights in May 2002. With the exception of Wellington, which remained virtually unchanged, all North Island regions recorded at least 20 percent more guest nights in caravan parks/camping grounds in May 2002, when compared with May 2001.

Auckland recorded the highest regional occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, in May 2002, with 56 percent, followed by Wellington with 55 percent.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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