Guest Night Trend Up

Guest Night Trend Up

The underlying trend in total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation has been increasing from June 1998, according to Statistics New Zealand. Seasonally adjusted total guest nights increased 1.3 percent in October 2002, when compared with September 2002. Actual total guest nights increased by 6 percent to 2.2 million in October 2002, compared with October 2001.

Seasonally adjusted and trend estimates have been introduced for North Island and South Island guest nights. After adjusting for seasonal variations, North Island guest nights increased 1.7 percent, and South Island guest nights increased 0.4 percent in October 2002, compared with September 2002. The trend in North Island guest nights has increased 8 percent between October 2001 and October 2002, whereas the trend in South Island guest nights has increased 5 percent, with the trend in total guest nights having increased 7 percent.

Actual guest nights in the North Island were up 8 percent, while South Island guest nights were up 4 percent in October 2002, compared with October 2001. The North Island contributed more than three-quarters of the increase in total guest nights in October 2002, with the Auckland region being the major contributor, up 15 percent or 56,000.

Eight of the 12 regions recorded higher occupancy rates, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, in October 2002 than in October 2001. The Auckland region recorded the largest regional growth in occupancy rates, up 14 percent when comparing the two October months. With an occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, of 66 percent, the Auckland region recorded its highest occupancy rate for an October month since the survey began in July 1996.

International guests spent 1.0 million nights in short-term commercial accommodation in October 2002, an 11 percent increase compared with October 2001. With the exception of guests from the Other Asian country grouping (down 7 percent) and Australia (down 3 percent), guests from all other country groupings collected in this survey contributed to this increase. Visitors from the UK/Ireland (up 37,000 or 31 percent) recorded the largest growth in guest nights between the two October months.

Brian Pink

Government Statistician

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