Highest Occupancy Rates Recorded

Highest Occupancy Rates Recorded

The national occupancy rate for short-term commercial accommodation was 69 percent in February 2003, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, according to Statistics New Zealand.

This is the highest national occupancy rate recorded since the survey began in July 1996. Five of the 12 regions, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, each recorded their highest occupancy rates since the survey began. These regions were Auckland, Wellington and Southland, each with 77 percent, Canterbury with 72 percent and Northland with 59 percent.

Three of the four accommodation types, in February 2003, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, recorded their highest occupancy rates since the survey began. These were hotels with 72 percent, motels with 71 percent and hosted with 45 percent. The occupancy rate for backpackers/hostels was 64 percent in February 2003. This is the second highest occupancy rate recorded for backpackers/hostels since the survey began.

Total guest nights reached 3.1 million in February 2003, a 6 percent increase compared with February 2002. For the year ended February 2003, total guest nights were up 6 percent on the year ended February 2002, and up 13 percent on the year ended February 2001.

All 12 regions recorded more guest nights in February 2003 than in February 2002. In February 2003, guest nights in the North Island were up 6 percent, while South Island guest nights were 7 percent higher than in February 2002. This is the third consecutive month that the South Island has recorded higher growth in guest nights than the North Island when compared with the same months of the previous year.

All accommodation types recorded increases in guest nights in February 2003 when compared with February 2002. Caravan parks/camping grounds (up 10 percent) recorded the largest percentage increase in guest nights in February 2003 when compared with February 2002, followed by backpackers/hostels (up 7 percent) and hotels (up 6 percent). Motels had the largest share of total guest nights in February 2003 with 32 percent, followed by hotels with 31 percent and caravan parks/camping grounds with 23 percent.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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