The number of people staying in hotels, motels and budget accommodation dipped 1 percent last year, but there was good news at the end of the year as international visitors boosted December guest nights, according a survey for the month.Overnight stays in
The number of people staying in hotels, motels and budget accommodation dipped 1 percent last year, but there was good news at the end of the year as international visitors boosted December guest nights, according a survey for the month.
Overnight stays in commercial accommodation were up 4 percent in December compared with the previous December, according to Statistics New Zealand's accommodation survey, which monitors guests staying in hotels, motels, backpackers, and holiday parks.
"This increase is largely due to 7 percent more international guest nights," said accommodation manager Tehseen Islam.
Domestic guest nights were up 3 percent.
Eleven of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in December 2009 than in the previous December.
Otago, Canterbury, and Bay of Plenty had the largest increases while Hawke's Bay/Gisborne was the only region with fewer guest nights over the same period.
Last year's 1 percent fall was largely due to a 3 percent drop in international guest nights, although domestic guest nights were also down slightly.
"Most of the drop in guest nights in 2009 occurred in the first half of the year while most months in the second half of the year have shown increases in guest nights," Mr Islam said.
Over 2009, Auckland and Bay of Plenty were the regions with the largest falls in guest nights, while Otago and Waikato were the only regions with more guest nights.
A drop in international visitors was behind the fall in guest nights in Auckland and Bay of Plenty while Otago's increase in guest nights in 2009 was largely due to more domestic guest nights.
Three of the four accommodation types in the survey had fewer guest nights in 2009 than the previous year. Motels had the largest decrease, followed by hotels and holiday parks. Backpackers had the only increase.
