Accommodation Survey: July 2009

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.2 million in July 2009, a 3 percent increase compared with July 2008, and a 1 percent increase compared with July 2007.

The trend in total guest nights decreased over the 2008 year. Although the trend appears to have been increasing in 2009, this change should be treated with caution, as time series analysis suggests more data is required for the direction of the trend to be confirmed. The trend level is now 3 percent higher than the previous low in November 2008, but is still 1 percent lower than the peak in December 2007.

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.3 million in July 2009, a 3 percent increase compared with July 2008, and a 1 percent decrease compared with July 2007.

After a period of decreases from January 2008, the trend for North Island guest nights appears to have been increasing since November 2008. This apparent increase in the trend in recent months should be treated with caution, as time series analysis suggests more data is required for the direction of the trend to be confirmed. The trend level is now 3 percent higher than the previous low in November 2008, but is still 2 percent lower than the peak in December 2007.

 

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.9 million in July 2009, a 4 percent increase compared with both July 2008 and July 2007.

The trend in South Island guest nights decreased over the 2008 year. Although the trend appears to have been increasing in 2009, this change should be treated with caution, as time series analysis suggests more data is required for the direction of the trend to be confirmed. The trend level is now 3 percent higher than the previous low in December 2008, but is still 1 percent lower than the peak in October 2007.

 

Guest nights by region

Eight of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in July 2009 compared with July 2008, with the following regions showing the largest increases:

• Otago, up 29,000 (8 percent)
• Auckland, up 26,000 (6 percent)
• Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, up 10,000 (7 percent)
• Waikato, up 10,000 (6 percent). 

Otago and Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui were boosted by increased numbers in Queenstown and Ruapehu, respectively. 

The region showing the largest decrease was Bay of Plenty, down 8,000 (4 percent).

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: July 2009 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in July 2009 were up 500 (less than 1 percent) from July 2008. This follows a decrease of 7,300 (5 percent) in June 2009 compared with June 2008.

Visitor arrivals from Australia were up 15,800 (20 percent) in July 2009 compared with July 2008. A holiday (up 12,900 or 37 percent) and visiting friends and relatives (up 4,600 or 21 percent) were the main travel purposes contributing to this increase. However, there were fewer business travellers (down 1,700 or 12 percent).

New Zealand resident short-term departures for July 2009 were down 3,800 (2 percent) from July 2008. This follows a decrease of 9,700 (5 percent) in June 2009 compared with June 2008.

Origin of guests

International visitors contributed 0.8 million guest nights in July 2009, up 15,000 (2 percent) from July 2008. These visitors provided 29 percent of total guest nights in the North Island and 49 percent of those in the South Island.

Despite the increase, eight of the 12 regions recorded a decrease in international guest nights in July 2009. The increase was driven by more international guest nights in Otago, which was up 22,000 (10 percent) from July 2008. Other regions showing an increase included Waikato, up 5,000 (15 percent), and Canterbury, up 4,000 (3 percent). 

The regions recording the largest decreases were:

• Bay of Plenty, down 6,000 (9 percent)
• Wellington, down 5,000 (9 percent).

 

Domestic guest nights numbered 1.4 million, up 56,000 (4 percent) from July 2008. Ten of the 12 regions recorded increases in domestic guest nights, led by:

• Auckland, up 27,000 (12 percent)
• Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, up 8,000 (6 percent)
• Otago, up 7,000 (4 percent).

The Bay of Plenty region recorded the largest decrease in domestic guest nights, down 2,000 (2 percent).

 

In July 2009, there was a response rate of 73 percent to the Accommodation Survey question on 'origin of guests'. In July 2008, the response rate was 66 percent. Figures for those establishments that failed to respond have been imputed and such high levels of imputation can affect data quality, including comparisons between different months.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In July 2009, four of the five accommodation types had more guest nights than in July 2008. The largest increases were recorded by:

• hotels, up 63,000 (8 percent)
• motels, up 5,000 (1 percent).

Hosted accommodation recorded the only decrease, down 1,000 (4 percent).

In July 2009, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (39 percent), followed by motels (35 percent), and backpackers/hostels (14 percent).

Occupancy rate

Excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, the occupancy rate in July 2009 was 42 percent, compared with 43 percent in July 2008.

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (50 percent) of all the accommodation types in July 2009, followed by motels (42 percent), and backpackers/hostels (36 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, nine of the 12 regions had lower occupancy rates in July 2009 than in July 2008. The regions with the highest occupancy rates were:

• Otago (57 percent)
• Auckland (53 percent)
• Wellington (50 percent).

 

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Response rates

 

When respondents do not answer questions in this survey, Statistics New Zealand estimates the missing information based on data from similar establishments in the same and/or similar areas. For more information, please see the Technical notes of this release or contact Statistics NZ.

Survey sponsorship

The Accommodation Survey is a monthly survey undertaken by Statistics NZ and sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.

For technical information contact:
Christine Sadler or Paul Sutherland
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz.

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: August 2009 will be released on 12 October 2009.