Accommodation Survey: July 2008

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.2 million in July 2008, a 2 percent decrease compared with July 2007 and a 4 percent increase compared with July 2006.

In July 2008, the trend series was at a similar level to July 2007 and 4 percent higher than in July 2006.

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.3 million in July 2008, a decrease of 4 percent compared with July 2007 and similar to July 2006.

In July 2008, the trend level was 3 percent lower than in July 2007 and 1 percent higher than in July 2006. The trend for North Island guest nights has been decreasing since November 2007, although this apparent change in direction 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 in the South Island were 0.9 million in July 2008, similar to July 2007 and an increase of 10 percent compared with July 2006.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been relatively flat since mid-2007. In July 2008, the trend level was similar to July 2007 and 6 percent higher than in July 2006.

Guest nights by region

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

• Waikato (down 20,000 or 11 percent)
• Auckland (down 17,000 or 4 percent).

The regions with the largest increases were:

• Canterbury (up 14,000 or 4 percent)
• Wellington (up 10,000 or 5 percent).

Origin of guests

International guest nights decreased in July 2008, down 67,000 or 8 percent from July 2007. The regions with the largest decreases in international guest nights were:

• Auckland (down 39,000 or 19 percent)
• Otago (down 25,000 or 11 percent).

International guest nights were down 12 percent in the North Island and down 3 percent in the South Island. In July 2008, 53 percent of total international guest nights were spent in the South Island.

However, the decrease in international guest nights was partly offset by an increase in domestic guest nights, up 21,000 or 2 percent. Auckland and Otago also had the largest increases in domestic guest nights:

• Auckland (up 22,000 or 10 percent)
• Otago (up 18,000 or 13 percent).

Domestic guest nights were up 1 percent in the North Island and up 3 percent in the South Island. In July 2008, 65 percent of total domestic guest nights were spent in the North Island.

Domestic guest nights were 62 percent of total guest nights in July 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 52 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 July 2008, there was a response rate of 66 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: July 2008 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in July 2008 were up 2,700 (2 percent) from July 2007. This increase followed a decrease of 3,100 (2 percent) in June 2008 compared with June 2007.

More visitors came to visit friends and relatives (up 3,768 or 9 percent) in July 2008 compared with July 2007, while fewer visitors were on holiday (down 2,352 or 3 percent) and on business (down 1,416 or 7 percent).

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

New Zealand resident short-term departures for July 2008 were up 16,700 (9 percent) from July 2007. This increase followed a decrease of 22,300 (11 percent) in June 2008 compared with June 2007.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In July 2008, guest nights for four of the five accommodation types decreased compared with July 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 47,000 (6 percent), followed by caravan parks/camping grounds, down 17,000 (7 percent).

In July 2008, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (37 percent), followed by motels (36 percent) and backpackers/hostels (15 percent).  

Occupancy rate

In July 2008, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 43 percent, compared with 44 percent in July 2007.

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

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (49 percent) of all the accommodation types in July 2008, followed by motels (44 percent) and backpackers/hostels (37 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, the Otago region had the highest occupancy rate (57 percent) in July 2008, followed by Wellington (54 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: August 2008 will be released on 10 October 2008.