Guest Nights Fall in June

Guest Nights Fall in June

Total guest nights decreased 4 percent to 1.5 million in June 2003, compared with June 2002, according to figures released today by Statistics New Zealand. This decrease may be due to a drop in the number of short-term overseas visitor arrivals in May and June 2003 when compared with the same month in the previous year. A timing change in the commencement of the second term school holidays may have also contributed to the decrease in guest nights. However, the contribution of these two factors cannot be quantified.

Backpackers/hostels (up 10,000 or 5 percent) was the only one of the five accommodation types to record an increase in guest nights in June 2003, when compared with June 2002. Hotels recorded the largest absolute decrease in guest nights (down 30,000 or 5 percent) in June 2003 when compared with June 2002. Four of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in June 2003 than in June 2002.

The Wellington region (up 9,000 or 6 percent) recorded the largest absolute increase in guest nights between the two June months. Other regions to show increases were Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, Hawke's Bay/Gisborne and the West Coast. Regions that recorded the largest absolute decreases in guest nights in June 2003 compared with June 2002 were Auckland (down 27,000 or 8 percent), Otago (down 14,000 or 8 percent) and Waikato (down 10,000 or 7 percent).

Excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, the occupancy rate for short-term commercial accommodation in June 2003 was 40 percent, down from 41 percent in June 2002. Motels and hotels had the highest occupancy rates of all the accommodation types in June 2003, both with 42 percent, followed by backpackers/hostels with 37 percent.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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