Accommodation Survey: June 2000
School Holidays Affect Tourist Accommodation
A later start to the second term school holidays this year has impacted on guest night figures for June 2000, according
to Statistics New Zealand's Accommodation Survey. Guests spent 1.3 million nights in commercial accommodation in June
2000, just 0.3 percent above the levels recorded last June. This is a small increase compared to the growth of at least
6 per cent recorded in each of the previous four months. School holidays began in the final week of June in 1999, but
did not start until July this year.
Guest night figures for specific accommodation types also reflect this change in the timing of school holidays. Motels
and caravan parks/camping grounds, which have a larger share of domestic guests than international visitors, recorded a
fall in guest night numbers between the two June months. In contrast, backpackers/hostels and hotels, which
traditionally report a predominance of international guest nights, recorded higher guest night numbers over the same
period. Excluding those visiting friends or relations, 11 per cent more short-term international visitors arrived this
month than in June 1999.
Only four regions recorded higher guest night numbers this month than in June 1999. Otago led the way, followed by
Auckland, Southland and Canterbury. An earlier start to the ski season this year may have contributed to the guest night
growth, especially in Otago and Canterbury. Dunedin also hosted the All Blacks versus Scotland rugby match on 24 June
and Invercargill was the venue for the Coca Cola Cup netball final earlier in the month.
This is the final month that the Accommodation Survey is being funded by the Regional Tourism Organisations. From the
July survey month onwards, the survey will be centrally funded by the Office of Tourism and Sport. Statistics New
Zealand would like to thank the Regional Tourism Organisations for their support for the survey.
Ian Ewing DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN END