Holiday parks keeping confident

Holiday parks keeping confident

Holiday park owners’ confidence levels are remaining positive, even through the middle of winter.

The Holiday Parks Business Confidence Monitor for June/July 2014 shows confidence levels are at +66, indicating that 66% of respondents are currently more optimistic than pessimistic. The result is 36 points ahead of this time last year and no respondents said they were feeling ‘very pessimistic’.

The Holiday Parks Business Confidence Monitor, developed and managed by Angus & Associates*, surveys the Holiday Parks Association New Zealand’s (HAPNZ) 300 members.

HAPNZ Chief Executive Fergus Brown says the June/July result is excellent, especially considering that winter is the quietest period for most holiday parks, except those in popular winter sports regions.

“Few members are feeling pessimistic and confidence is likely to improve as spring approaches,” he says.

“According to the national accommodation statistics**, holiday parks recorded positive guest night results through the first five months of the year, except for March due to the later Easter this year. However, guest nights jumped 28.6% in April as many people took advantage of the Easter/Anzac Day holiday period.”

Survey respondents continue to believe that the appeal of their region is a lead influencer of demand increases, while weather conditions are identified as a potential driver of any decreased demand, Mr Brown says.

Demand for June/July compared to the same period last year decreased to +13 (down from +34 in May/June). 39% of HAPNZ members completing the monitor thought demand had increased compared to the same month last year, 26% believed it had decreased and 32% saw no change.

Forecast demand for July/August compared to the same period of 2013 increased to +22 (from +15 in May/June). 32% of survey respondents expected demand to increase, 10% expected it to decrease and 49% expected no change.

* Angus & Associates is a premier supplier of marketing, research and strategic planning services. They are focused on delivering informed insights for a range of private and public sector clients, particularly within the tourism and leisure sectors.

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