NZ guest nights rise in August as more locals check-in

Wednesday 10th October 2012

New Zealand guest nights rose in August as the number of kiwis' checking into local accommodation offset a decrease in international guest nights.

Total guest nights rose a seasonally adjusted 2.6 percent to 2.6 million in August compared to July, Statistics New Zealand said. The rise came from a 3.2 percent increase in domestic guest nights to 1.6 million. International guest nights fell 0.2 percent to 1 million easing from a decline of 4 percent in July.

The trend for international guest nights "appears to be rising" from its low point in March 2012, the government statistician said.

The fall in international guest nights came in the same month when government figures showed a 5 percent increase in the number of short-term arrivals to 2.6 million.

Hotel guest nights rose 7.1 percent to 513,000, turning around a 12 percent decrease in July. Nights at motels, backpacker accommodation and holiday parks were little changed.

North Island guest nights rose 3.9 percent to 1.6 million in August, which follows a decrease of 12 percent in July. Guest nights in the South Island were unchanged at about 1 million.

The national trend for guest nights has been generally declining since December 2009, with the trend of domestic guest nights "relatively flat" in 2012.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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