International guest nights fall in November

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation decreased 4 percent in November 2008 compared with November 2007, Statistics New Zealand said today. This fall was largely due to an 8 percent decrease in international guest nights. Domestic guest nights also fell, showing a 1 percent decrease in November 2008 compared with November 2007.

The trend series for total guest nights has been decreasing since September 2007, after increasing since January 2006.

Guest nights decreased in all five accommodation types in November 2008 compared with November 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 80,000 or 9 percent, and contributed two-thirds of the decrease in total guest nights. The trend series for motel guest nights has been decreasing since August 2007 and is now at its lowest level in five years.

In November 2008, nine of the 12 regions had fewer guest nights, with the Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Otago regions showing the largest decreases.