Guest Nights Fall

Accommodation Survey: September 2000

Guest nights spent in short-term commercial accommodation were 5 per cent lower in September 2000 compared with September 1999, according to Statistics New Zealand's Accommodation Survey. This is the first year on year fall in monthly guest nights since May 1999.

The result in part reflects the high level of guest nights in September 1999, which were 23 per cent above September 1998 levels. This increase was attributed to one-off events such as the APEC leaders' meeting in Auckland and the World Netball Championships in Christchurch. A change to the timing of the third-term school holidays between 1998 and 1999 may also have contributed to this result, with eight more days of the holidays falling in September 1999 than in September 1998.

Other factors which may have contributed to the fall in September 2000 guest nights were a decline in short-term visitor numbers, and a further change to the timing of school holidays. Short-term visitor numbers, excluding those visiting friends and relations, were 4 per cent lower in September 2000 than in September 1999. Third-term school holidays began on 23 September this year, five days later than in 1999.

All accommodation types except backpackers/hostels reflect the national trend of lower guest nights in September 2000 than in September 1999. However, the 5 per cent growth rate reported for backpacker/hostel guest nights is the smallest increase reported by this accommodation type since August 1998. Backpackers/hostels accounted for 10 per cent of total guests nights in September 2000.

Ian Ewing DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

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