Guest Nights Trend Up 2 Percent
The total guest nights trend for short-term commercial accommodation was 2 percent higher in April 2003, compared with
April 2002, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Actual guest nights were 2 percent higher for the two months ended April 2003 than for the two months ended April 2002.
The timing of the Easter holidays, which occurred at the end of March in 2002, but fell in the middle of April in 2003,
makes it more appropriate to compare the actual guest nights for the two months ended April 2003 with the two months
ended April 2002.
Nine of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights for the two months ended April 2003 compared with the two months ended
April 2002.
Regions that recorded the largest absolute increases in guest nights between these periods were West Coast (up 32,000 or
15 percent), Waikato (up 31,000 or 6 percent) and Taranaki/Manawatu/Wanganui (up 29,000 or 11 percent). Domestic
visitors spent 1.6 million nights in short-term commercial accommodation in April 2003, up 15 percent compared with
April 2001.
The timing of the Easter holidays and the frequency of the collection of origin of guest data (collected nationally one
month in three) necessitates this comparison. International guests accounted for 1.0 million guest nights in April 2003,
12 percent more than in April 2001.
Guests from UK/Ireland (up 55,000 or 39 percent) and Australia (up 30,000 or 12 percent) recorded the largest increases
in international guest nights between the two April months. Visitors from the Other Asian grouping (down 34,000 or 30
percent) recorded the largest decrease in international guest nights between the two April months.
Brian Pink
Government Statistician