Accommodation numbers fall in Sept

Photo / Thinkstock

New Zealand and overseas guests spent 1.2 per cent fewer nights in accommodation during September than they did during the same period last year.

Statistics New Zealand's (SNZ) accommodation survey shows international guest nights fell 1.8 per cent and domestic guest nights dropped 0.9 per cent bringing total guest nights to 2.2 million during the month.

The trend for the total number of guest nights had been in a slow decline for the latest 11 months, SNZ said.

However overall guest nights were up 1.8 per cent when compared with September 2008.

The drop in guest nights was lead by a decrease in stays in holiday parks (down 10.3 per cent) followed by backpackers, and motels.

The hotel industry recorded 5.9 per cent jumped in guest nights when compared with year ago figures.

Hotels also had the largest share of guest nights in September, at 40 per cent.

In the regions Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui recorded the biggest drop in guest nights, down 17,000 or 12.6 per cent, followed by the West Coast (-12.4 per cent) and the Waikato (-8.6 per cent).

Auckland recorded largest rise in guest nights while Canterbury, despite the earthquake, had a small rise.

The increase was driven by Christchurch city which saw both a big drop in international guest nights and a large rise in domestic figures, SNZ's business statistics manager Kathy Connolly said.

The increase backed up anecdotal evidence of people needing accommodation for 'various earthquake-related reasons'," she said.

The Accommodation Survey records guests staying in hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks in New Zealand each month.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE