Accommodation Survey: June 2009

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 1.6 million in June 2009, a 5 percent decrease compared with June 2008, and a 10 percent decrease compared with June 2007.

The trend in total guest nights decreased over 2008, and has been flattening over recent months. The trend level is now 4 percent lower than the peak in December 2007.

For the year ended June 2009, total guest nights were 3 percent lower than for the year ended June 2008.

 

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.0 million in June 2009, a 6 percent decrease compared with June 2008, and a 12 percent decrease compared with June 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 1 percent higher than the previous low in November 2008, but is still 3 percent lower than the peak in December 2007.

For the year ended June 2009, North Island guest nights were 3 percent lower than for the year ended June 2008.

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.6 million in June 2009, a 2 percent decrease compared with June 2008, and a 7 percent decrease compared with June 2007.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been decreasing since September 2007, and the trend level is now 5 percent lower than the September 2007 peak.

For the year ended June 2009, South Island guest nights were 4 percent lower than for the year ended June 2008.

 

Guest nights by region

In June 2009, 8 of the 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights than in June 2008, with the following regions showing the largest decreases:

• Auckland, down 39,000 (11 percent)
• Bay of Plenty, down 19,000 (11 percent)
• Canterbury, down 17,000 (6 percent).

The region showing the largest increase was Otago, up 17,000 (9 percent), assisted by a higher number of guest nights in Queenstown.

For the year ended June 2009, 11 of the 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights than in the year ended June 2008. The regions showing the largest decreases were:

• Auckland, down 242,000 (4 percent)
• Bay of Plenty, down 212,000 (6 percent)
• Otago, down 188,000 (4 percent)

The only region showing an increase was Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, up 5,000 (less than 1 percent).

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: June 2009 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in June 2009 were down 7,300 (5 percent) from June 2008. This follows an increase of 1,400 (1 percent) in May 2009 compared with May 2008.

In June 2009 compared with June 2008, there were more people visiting friends and relatives, up 3,000 (7 percent), but fewer visitors on holiday, down 5,200 (9 percent), or on business, down 3,200 (15 percent).

New Zealand resident short-term departures for June 2009 were down 9,700 (5 percent) from June 2008. This follows a decrease of 10,300 (6 percent) in May 2009 compared with May 2008.

Origin of guests

International visitors contributed 0.6 million guest nights in June 2009, down 49,000 (8 percent) from June 2008. These visitors provided 31 percent of total guest nights in the North Island and 45 percent of those in the South Island. Domestic guest nights numbered 1.0 million, down 34,000 (3 percent) from June 2008.

Eight of the 12 regions showed decreases in international guest nights, with the largest decreases recorded in:

• Auckland, down 22,000 (14 percent)
• Bay of Plenty, down 12,000 (21 percent)

The region recording the largest increase was Otago, up 4,000 (3 percent).

 

Nine of the 12 regions showed decreases in domestic guest nights, led by:

• Auckland, down 17,000 (8 percent)
• Canterbury, down 11,000 (7 percent)
• Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, down 9,000 (15 percent).

The Otago region recorded the largest increase in domestic guest nights, up 13,000 (15 percent).

In June 2009, there was a response rate of 73 percent to the Accommodation Survey question on 'origin of guests'. In June 2008, the response rate was 68 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 June 2009, all five accommodation types had fewer guest nights than in June 2008. The largest decreases were recorded by:

• motels, down 28,000 (5 percent)
• backpackers/hostels, down 27,000 (9 percent).

In June 2009, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (39 percent), followed by motels (34 percent), and backpackers/hostels (16 percent).

For the year ended June 2009, all five accommodation types recorded decreases compared with the previous June year, with the largest decrease recorded by motels, down 669,000 (6 percent).

Hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (33 percent) in the June 2009 year, followed by motels (32 percent), and caravan parks/camping grounds (20 percent).  

Occupancy rate

Excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, the occupancy rate in June 2009 was 35 percent, compared with 38 percent in June 2008. This is the lowest occupancy rate in any month since June 1998.

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (41 percent) of all the accommodation types in June 2009, followed by motels (35 percent), and backpackers/hostels (31 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, all 12 regions had lower occupancy rates in June 2009 than in June 2008. The leading occupancy rates were:

• Wellington (48 percent)
• Auckland (46 percent).

 

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 New Zealand.

Survey sponsorship

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

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

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: July 2009 will be released on 11 September 2009.