Accommodation Survey: August 2008

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.0 million in August 2008,
a 4 percent decrease compared with August 2007 and a 2 percent increase compared with August 2006. This is the third consecutive month in which total guest nights have decreased compared with the same month the previous year.

The trend in total guest nights has been decreasing since September 2007, after increasing since January 2006. The trend level is now 2 percent lower than the recent peak in September 2007 but is 4 percent higher than a previous low point in January 2006.

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.2 million in August 2008, a decrease of 4 percent compared with August 2007 and similar to August 2006.

The trend for North Island guest nights has been decreasing since October 2007, after increasing since January 2006. The trend level is now 4 percent lower than the October 2007 peak but is 3 percent higher than a previous low point in January 2006.

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.9 million in August 2008, a 4 percent decrease compared with August 2007 and a 6 percent increase compared with August 2006.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been relatively flat since mid-2007. In August 2008, the trend level was similar to August 2007 and 6 percent higher than in August 2006. However, initial trend estimates should be treated with caution, as time series analysis suggests more data is required for the direction of the trend to be confirmed.

Guest nights by region

In August 2008, eleven of the twelve regions recorded fewer guest nights than in August 2007, with the following regions showing the largest decreases:

• Otago (down 19,000 or 5 percent)
• Northland (down 17,000 or 22 percent)
• Hawke's Bay/Gisborne (down 13,000 or 18 percent)
• Waikato (down 10,000 or 6 percent).

The only region to record an increase was Auckland, up 1,000 or less than 1 percent.

Origin of guests

In August 2008, domestic guest nights were 1.3 million. The Auckland region had the highest number of domestic guest nights, followed by Canterbury and Otago.

International visitors contributed 0.8 million guest nights in August 2008. The Otago region had the highest number of international guest nights, followed by Auckland and Canterbury.

Domestic guest nights were 62 percent of total guest nights in August 2008. In the North Island, domestic guest nights contributed 70 percent of the North Island's total guest nights. In the South Island, domestic guest nights were 50 percent of its total. Ten of the twelve regions had more domestic than international guest nights.

Survey change

From the November 2007 survey month, information on domestic and international guest nights is available on a monthly basis. Previous information on 'origin of guest by country' is no longer available. This is the first stage of changes being made, following a review of the Accommodation Survey, which aim to balance the need for high-quality information against the need to reduce respondent load.

In August 2008, there was a response rate of 69 percent to the Accommodation Survey question on 'origin of guests'. Before the survey change, the response rate for this question ranged between 55 and 60 percent. Figures for those establishments that failed to respond have been imputed. Such high levels of imputation can affect data quality, especially for regional statistics and those for accommodation type.

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: August 2008 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in August 2008 were down 2,300 (1 percent) from August 2007. This decrease followed an increase of 2,700 (2 percent) in July 2008 compared with July 2007.

More visitors came to visit friends and relatives (up 1,826 or 5 percent) in August 2008 compared with August 2007, while fewer visitors were on holiday (down 2,222 or 3 percent) and on business (down 1,276 or 6 percent).

The estimated average number of visitors who were in New Zealand during August 2008 was up 4 percent from August 2007.

New Zealand resident short-term departures for August 2008 were down 1,600 (1 percent) from August 2007. This decrease followed an increase of 16,700 (9 percent) in July 2008 compared with July 2007.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In August 2008, guest nights for four of the five accommodation types decreased compared with August 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 83,000 or 10 percent. This is the third consecutive month in which motel guest nights have decreased compared with the same month the previous year.

The trend in motel guest nights has been decreasing since August 2007 and is now 7 percent lower.

In August 2008, guest nights also decreased for caravan parks/camping grounds, down 26,000 (11 percent). Offsetting these decreases was an increase in hotel guest nights, up 32,000 (4 percent).

In August 2008, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (39 percent), followed by motels (35 percent) and backpackers/hostels (14 percent).

Occupancy rate

In August 2008, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 42 percent, compared with 44 percent in August 2007.

Accommodation capacity, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 3 percent above the August 2007 level.

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (51 percent) of all the accommodation types in August 2008, followed by motels (42 percent) and backpackers/hostels (34 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, the Otago region had the highest occupancy rate (56 percent) in August 2008, followed by Auckland (55 percent).

 

Response rates

When respondents do not answer questions in the Accommodation Survey, Statistics New Zealand estimates the missing information based on data from similar establishments in the same and/or similar areas. For more information, please refer to the Technical notes of this release or contact Statistics NZ.

Survey sponsorship

The Accommodation Survey is a monthly survey undertaken by Statistics NZ and sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism.

For technical information contact:
Brylee Wayman or Tehseen Islam
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: September 2008 will be released on 12 November 2008.