Positive start to Queenstown summer

Thursday, 11 February 2010, 4:49 pm
Press Release: Destination Queenstown

Positive start to Queenstown summer

It’s been a hot start to the Queenstown summer with the resort recording the largest increase in guest nights for New Zealand in December 2009.

Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand’s Commercial Accommodation Monitor show December was a busy time in the Wakatipu with a total of 218,194 nights recorded - up an extra 24,000 nights or 12.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

New Zealand as a whole for December was up 4.4 per cent with an increase of 137,000 nights.

Destination Queenstown CEO Tony Everitt says the local results reinforce Queenstown’s position as premier year round holiday destination for visitors.

“Well done to the tourism industry overall for still managing to produce positive results in what’s been a challenging time on a global economic scale,” he says.

“There are still a few months to go but I think we can be cautiously optimistic the rest of summer will continue in a similar manner.”

According to the December CAM, international guest nights in Queenstown are up 14.8 per cent to 157,180 and domestic up 5.8 per cent to 61,014 compared to December 2008.

NZ’s international guest nights overall during the same period has grown 6.6 per cent to 1,449,858 and domestically the country has also experienced a 2.7 per cent growth to 1,792,112.

The CAM also reveals hotel providers have enjoyed increases, up 13.8 per cent from December 2008, and this is further backed up by the NZ Hotel Council.

“There has been positive growth in hotel occupancy across all sectors compared to the prior year,” NZ Hotel Council Regional Chairman John McIIwain says. “We believe this should continue into the first quarter of 2010.”

DQ’s spring and summer campaigns rolled out throughout NZ and Australia from August to November last year.

DQ is now working on the next campaign phase promoting Queenstown’s ‘True Colours’ in Australia and NZ. Advertisements encouraging people to visit the resort in autumn start in the next few weeks.

ENDS

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