Domestic guest nights drive October increase

Embargoed until 10:45am – 11 December 2008

Domestic guest nights drive October increase

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation increased 4 percent in October 2008 compared with October 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. This increase in guest nights follows decreases in five of the previous six months when compared with the same month the previous year.

The increase is largely due to a 16 percent increase in domestic guest nights, although this was partly offset by an 11 percent decrease in international guest nights.

In 2008, the third-term school holidays continued later into October than in 2007, but the exact effect cannot be measured.

Guest nights increased in four of the five accommodation types in October 2008 compared with October 2007. Hotels had the largest increase, up 48,000 (6 percent), followed by caravan parks/camping grounds, up 40,000 (11 percent).

In October 2008, nine of the 12 regions had more guest nights, with Wellington and Auckland showing the largest increases.

The trend in total guest nights has been decreasing since November 2007, after increasing from February 2006.

Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
11 December 2008
ENDS

See also the Hot Off The Press information release Accommodation Survey: October 2008 [PDF}.

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Accommodation Survey: October 2008 Highlights

In October 2008 compared with October 2007:
Total guest nights increased 4 percent.
Domestic guest nights increased 16 percent while international guest nights decreased 11 percent.
Nine of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights, led by Wellington and Auckland.
Four of the five accommodation types had more guest nights, led by hotels and caravan parks/camping grounds.

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