Hawke's Bay visitor numbers down 9pc

Total guest nights in Hawke's Bay continue to fall according to the latest Statistics New Zealand release.
There were 9 per cent fewer guest nights recorded in April this year compared to April 2010.
Hotels recorded a 2.3 per cent fall, motels 10 per cent and holiday parks a dramatic 20 per cent. Backpacker accommodations bucked the trend with a rise of 8.3 per cent.
There were 95,904 total guest nights recorded in April 2010 compared with 87,271 in April 2011.
International visitors made up 26 per cent of April's total.
North Island guest nights rose 3.2 per cent in April 2011 than in April 2010, with Auckland up 8.6 per cent and Waikato 6.6 per cent.
All five South Island regions recorded fewer guest nights, with Canterbury's 28 per cent decrease accounting for the bulk of the fall. Canterbury's accommodation capacity was down by 21 per cent due to earthquake damage, with hotels and backpackers hardest hit.