International guest nights boost accommodation in February
12 April 2018
International guest nights rose 6.6 percent in February 2018 from February 2017, surpassing domestic guest nights for
the first time in eight years, Stats NZ said today.
The numbers were boosted by international guests visiting over Chinese New Year, which was in mid-February this year,
compared with late January in 2017.
The strong increase in international guest nights spent in short-term commercial accommodation coincided with a record
February for international visitor arrivals. See Chinese New Year boosts visitors to February record.
“International guest nights were up the most in the South Island, with large increases for nights spent in Christchurch,
Queenstown-Lakes, Kaikōura, Southland, and Dunedin,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.
“Kaikōura’s increase, and to a lesser extent Christchurch’s, reflects recovery from the lower volume of guest nights
that followed the November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake,” Ms McKenzie said.
At a national level, guest nights increased 2.1 percent in February 2018 from February 2017, dampened by fewer domestic
guest nights (particularly in the North Island).
“New Zealanders spent fewer nights in holiday park and motel accommodation than last February, possibly reflecting Kiwis
delaying their travel plans to wait out cyclones Gita and Fehi,” Ms McKenzie said. “Locals are typically more likely to
change their plans at short notice than international guests.”
Record number of annual guest nights
In the year ended February 2018, a record 39.6 million guest nights were spent in short-term commercial accommodation –
2.8 percent more than the previous February year, and more than any other 12-month period.
Over the same period international visitor arrivals numbered 3.78 million, up 7 percent. New Zealand residents took 2.87
million trips overseas, up 8 percent.
The accommodation survey collects data for guests staying in short-term commercial accommodation such as hotels, motels,
backpackers, and holiday parks. Hosted and private accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts and holiday homes, are
excluded.
Ends