Total guest nights
Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.5 million in October 2009, an increase of 0.5 percent from October 2008, and a 5 percent increase compared with October 2007.
The trend has been increasing in 2009, following a period of decline during the 2008 year. The trend level is now 3 percent higher than the previous low in December 2008, but is still 0.5 percent lower than the peak in December 2007.
Guest nights by island
Guest nights in the North Island were 1.5 million in October 2009, a 1 percent decrease compared with October 2008, but a 5 percent increase compared with October 2007.
The trend for North Island guest nights began increasing in December 2008, after a period of decline from January 2008. The trend level is now 2 percent higher than the previous low in November 2008, but is still 2 percent lower than the series peak in December 2007.
Guest nights in the South Island were 1.0 million in October 2009, a 3 percent increase compared with October 2008 and up 4 percent on October 2007.
The trend in South Island guest nights has been increasing since December 2008, following a period of decline during the 2008 year. The trend level is 6 percent higher than the previous low in December 2008, and is now 2 percent higher than the recent peak in October 2007.
Guest nights by region
Seven of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in October 2009 compared with October 2008, with all five South Island regions recording increases. The regions showing the largest increases were:
- Otago, up 12,000 (4 percent)
- Canterbury, up 10,000 (2 percent)
- Southland, up 6,000 (10 percent).
The region showing the largest decrease was Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, down 13,000 (8 percent).
Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics
International Travel and Migration: October 2009 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in October 2009 were up 13,400 (8 percent) from October 2008. This follows an increase of 14,700 (9 percent) in September 2009 compared with September 2008.
In October 2009 compared with October 2008, there were more visitors on holiday, up 8,400 (10 percent), and more people visiting friends and relatives, up 6,800 (14 percent), but fewer here on business trips, down 600 (3 percent).
New Zealand resident short-term departures for October 2009 were up 600 (less than 1 percent) from October 2008. This follows an increase of 1,200 (1 percent) in September 2009 compared with September 2008.
Origin of guests
International visitors contributed 1.0 million guest nights in October 2009, an increase of 47,000 (5 percent) from October 2008. These visitors provided 33 percent of total guest nights in the North Island and 48 percent of those in the South Island.
In October 2009, there were 16,000 (3 percent) more international guest nights in the North Island than in October 2008. International guest nights in the South Island were up 31,000 (7 percent) over the same period.
The regions showing the largest increases in international guest nights were:
- Canterbury, up 13,000 (7 percent)
- Otago, up 11,000 (7 percent)
- Bay of Plenty, up 11,000 (14 percent).
Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui recorded the only decrease, down 5,000 (18 percent).
Domestic guest nights numbered 1.5 million, a decrease of 35,000 (2 percent) from October 2008. Seven of the 12 regions recorded fewer domestic guest nights in October 2009 than in October 2008.
In October 2009, domestic guest nights in North Island were down 36,000 (3 percent), with six of the seven North Island regions recording decreases compared with October 2008. While four of the five South Island regions had more domestic guest nights, the total number of domestic guest nights in the South Island was similar to October 2008.
The regions recording the largest decreases in domestic guest nights were:
- Bay of Plenty, down 15,000 (10 percent)
- Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui, down 8,000 (6 percent)
- Hawke's Bay/Gisborne, down 7,000 (8 percent)
- Waikato, down 7,000 (4 percent).
The largest increases were:
- Auckland, up 5,000 (2 percent)
- Southland, up 2,000 (7 percent).
Guest nights by accommodation type
In October 2009, two of the four accommodation types had more guest nights than in October 2008:
- hotels, up 18,000 (2 percent)
- backpackers, up 16,000 (5 percent)
- motels, down 12,000 (1 percent)
- holiday parks, down 11,000 (3 percent).
In October 2009, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (36 percent), followed by motels (34 percent), holiday parks (16 percent), and backpackers (13 percent).
Occupancy rate
Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in October 2009 was 46 percent, compared with 48 percent in October 2008. Accommodation capacity, excluding holiday parks, was 3 percent above the October 2008 level.
Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (54 percent) of all the accommodation types in October 2009, followed by motels (47 percent), and backpackers (36 percent).
Excluding the holiday parks category, seven of the 12 regions had lower occupancy rates in October 2009 than in October 2008. The regions with the highest occupancy rates were:
- Auckland (58.5 percent)
- Wellington (57.5 percent)
- Canterbury (47.2 percent).
Response rates
| Response rates by accommodation type for October 2009 |
| Accommodation type |
Establishments responding to questions on guest nights, guest arrivals, and stay unit nights |
Proportion of guest-night estimate from actual data |
Proportion of origin-of-guest estimate from actual data |
| Percentage |
| Hotels |
86 |
97 |
85 |
| Motels |
83 |
87 |
72 |
| Backpackers |
86 |
84 |
64 |
| Holiday parks |
82 |
89 |
77 |
| Total |
84 |
90 |
76 |
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 or similar regions. For more information, please see the 'Technical notes' section or contact Statistics NZ.
Survey change
From the September 2009 survey month, the following changes have been implemented for the Accommodation Survey:
- the 'hosted' accommodation group has been removed from the survey
- regional boundaries have been updated.
We have also updated data for the previous months based on the new regional boundaries and with the 'hosted' accommodation type removed. These updates will allow for continued time series comparison.
Two classifications have been renamed:
- 'backpackers/hostels' has been renamed 'backpackers'
- 'caravan parks/camping grounds' has been renamed 'holiday parks'.
However, the coverage remains unchanged.
These changes are the result of a joint review conducted by Statistics NZ and the Ministry of Tourism, which aimed to balance the need for high quality information against the need to reduce respondent load.
Statistics NZ would like to thank all respondents for participating in the Accommodation Survey. Their commitment and support enables us to produce an accurate picture of the evolving New Zealand economy.
Survey sponsorship
The Accommodation Survey is a monthly survey undertaken by Statistics NZ 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: November 2009 will be released on 19 January 2010.