Accommodation Survey: September 2008

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.2 million in September 2008, a 5 percent decrease compared with September 2007 and a 1 percent decrease compared with September 2006. This is the fourth consecutive month in which total guest nights have decreased when compared with the same month the previous year.

In 2008, the third-term school holidays started later in September than in 2007, but the exact effect cannot be measured.

The trend in total guest nights has been decreasing since October 2007, after increasing from February 2006. The trend level is now 3 percent lower than the recent peak in October 2007, but is 3 percent higher than the most recent low point in January 2006.

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.3 million in September 2008, a 6 percent decrease compared with September 2007 and a 2 percent decrease compared with September 2006.

The trend for North Island guest nights has been decreasing since October 2007, after increasing from February 2006. The trend level is now 5 percent lower than the October 2007 peak, but is 2 percent higher than the most recent low point in January 2006.

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.9 million in September 2008, a 4 percent decrease compared with September 2007, and a similar number to September 2006.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been gradually decreasing since the series peaked in August 2007 and is now 1 percent lower than this high point.

Guest nights by region

In September 2008, 10 of the 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights than in September 2007, with the following regions showing the largest decreases:

• Bay of Plenty (down 38,000 or 17 percent)
• Otago (down 24,000 or 7 percent)
• Waikato (down 19,000 or 10 percent)
• Auckland (down 13,000 or 3 percent).

The two regions to record an increase were Wellington (up 2,000 or 1 percent) and Southland (up 1,000 or 1 percent).

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: September 2008 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in September 2008 were down 11,100 (7 percent) from September 2007. This fall followed a decrease of 2,300 (1 percent) in August 2008 compared with August 2007.

More visitors came to visit friends and relatives (up 300 or 1 percent) in September 2008 compared with September 2007, while fewer visitors were on holiday (down 8,500 or 10 percent) and on business (down 800 or 4 percent).

New Zealand resident short-term departures for September 2008 were down 16,400 (8 percent) from September 2007. This fall followed a decrease of 1,600 (1 percent) in August 2008 compared with August 2007.

Origin of guests

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

International visitors contributed 0.9 million guest nights in September 2008. The Auckland region had the highest number of international guest nights, followed by Otago and Canterbury. These three regions combined represented 62 percent of total international guest nights in September 2008.

Domestic guest nights were 59 percent of total guest nights in September 2008. In the North Island, domestic guest nights contributed 65 percent of its total. In the South Island, domestic guest nights were 50 percent of its total. Eleven of the 12 regions had more domestic than international guest nights, with Otago being the exception.

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 September 2008, there was a response rate of 68 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 for accommodation type.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In September 2008, guest nights for all five accommodation types decreased compared with September 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 77,000 (9 percent), followed by backpackers, down 28,000 (9 percent). The decrease in motel guest nights contributed almost two-thirds of the total decrease. This is the fourth consecutive month in which motel guest nights have decreased compared with the same month the previous year.

Motel guest nights are dominated by domestic guests while the majority of backpackers guest nights are international.

In September 2008, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (36 percent), followed by motels (35 percent) and caravan parks/camping grounds (15 percent).

For the year ended September 2008, hotels had a 3 percent increase in guest nights, and motels had a 3 percent decrease in guest nights.

Occupancy rate

In September 2008, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 43 percent, compared with 45 percent in September 2007.

Accommodation capacity, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 2 percent above the September 2007 level.

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (51 percent) of all the accommodation types in September 2008, followed by motels (46 percent) and backpackers/hostels (33 percent). Hotels generally have the highest occupancy rate in September months.

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, the Auckland region had the highest occupancy rate (56 percent) in September 2008, followed by Wellington (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 Christine Sadler
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz.

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: October 2008 will be released on 11 December 2008.