NZ accommodation rises 0.3% in September on more visitors, fewer locals

Thursday 10th November 2011

Overseas visitors drove growth in guest nights in September, thanks to the draw card of the Rugby World Cup, while changes to the timing of school holidays kept locals at home.

Total guest nights rose 0.3 percent in September, according to Statistics New Zealand. International guest night surged 21 percent while domestic declined 12 percent, the figures show.

The figures are for a month in which short-term visitors rose 26 percent, according to government figures.

School holidays were shifted to October this year to coincide with the rugby tournament final. The largest decline was in Canterbury, reflecting the loss of accommodation capacity in Christchurch since the earthquakes and the subsequent loss of any RWC games in the city after the stadium was damaged.

There were 1 million guest nights from international visitors in September, which was the first month the total had increased since the Canterbury earthquakes began in September last year. International guest nights jumped 50 percent in the North Island and fell 7 percent in the South Island.

In Auckland, international guest nights rose 38 percent while in Wellington they rose 57 percent. Waikato got a 91 percent increase. In Canterbury overseas guest nights fell 32 percent.

Holiday park guest nights climbed 20 percent and for backpacker accommodation climbed 13 percent.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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