Total guest nights
Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.8 million in April 2010, a 1 percent increase compared with April 2009.
The trend had been increasing since December 2008, but has flattened in recent months. The recent decrease in the estimated trend should be treated with caution until more data points are available, as the initial estimates may be revised.
Guest nights by island
Guest nights in the North Island were 1.6 million in April 2010, a 1 percent decrease compared with April 2009.
The trend in North Island guest nights decreased throughout 2008 and has been relatively flat since then. The recent fluctuations in the estimated trend should also be treated with caution.
Guest nights in the South Island were 1.2 million in April 2010, a 4 percent increase compared with April 2009.
The trend had been increasing since December 2008, but has flattened in recent months. The recent decrease in the estimated trend should also be treated with caution.
Guest nights by region
Four of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in April 2010 than in April 2009. The four regions were:
- Otago, up 30,000 (8 percent)
- Auckland, up 25,000 (6 percent)
- Canterbury, up 16,000 (4 percent)
- Southland, up 3,000 (4 percent).
The regions showing the largest decreases were:
- Waikato, down 20,000 (8 percent)
- Wellington, down 16,000 (7 percent).
Origin of guests
International visitors contributed 1.1 million guest nights in April 2010, an increase of 17,000 (2 percent) from April 2009. These visitors provided 34 percent of total guest nights in the North Island and 48 percent of those in the South Island.
Six of the 12 regions showed an increase in international guest nights in April 2010 compared with April 2009, led by:
- Otago, up 22,000 (12 percent)
- Canterbury, up 10,000 (5 percent)
- Bay of Plenty, up 8,000 (8 percent).
The regions with the largest decreases in international guest nights were:
- Wellington, down 10,000 (13 percent)
- Waikato, down 8,000 (11 percent)
- Northland, down 6,000 (9 percent).
Domestic guest nights numbered 1.7 million, an increase of 5,000 (less than 1 percent) from April 2009. Four of the 12 regions recorded more domestic guest nights in April 2010 than in April 2009.
The regions recording the largest increases in domestic guest nights were:
- Auckland, up 26,000 (11 percent)
- Otago, up 8,000 (5 percent)
- Southland, up 7,000 (19 percent)
- Canterbury, up 7,000 (3 percent).
The regions recording the largest decreases in domestic guest nights were:
- Waikato, down 12,000 (6 percent)
- Bay of Plenty, down 8,000 (4 percent)
- Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, down 7,000 (6 percent).
Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics
International Travel and Migration: April 2010 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in April 2010 were down 7,900 (4 percent) from April 2009. The earlier timing of Easter, and school holidays in some Australian states, influenced this decrease. The decrease follows a rise of 16,800 (7 percent) in March 2010 compared with March 2009.
The estimated number of visitors who were in New Zealand during April 2010 was similar to April 2009.
New Zealand resident short-term departures for April 2010 were also similar to April 2009.
Guest nights by accommodation type
In April 2010, hotels were the only accommodation type with more guest nights than in April 2009, up 65,000 or 7 percent. This increase offset the decreases in guest nights by the other three accommodation types:
- backpackers, down 22,000 (5 percent)
- holiday parks, down 12,000 (2 percent)
- motels, down 10,000 (1 percent).
The trend series for hotel guest nights has been increasing since early 2009, although the rate of increase has slowed in recent months. Before this, the trend had been decreasing since April 2008. The estimated trend for April 2010 is now 7 percent higher than the previous low in January 2009 and 2 percent higher than the previous high in April 2008.
In April 2010, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (34 percent), followed by motels (32 percent).
Occupancy rate
Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in April 2010 was 50 percent, compared with 51 percent in April 2009. Accommodation capacity, excluding holiday parks, was 2 percent above the April 2009 level.
Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (55 percent) of all the accommodation types in April 2010, followed by motels (50 percent), and backpackers (44 percent).
Excluding the holiday parks category, eight of the 12 regions had lower occupancy rates in April 2010 than in April 2009. The Auckland region had the highest occupancy rate (58 percent), followed by Wellington (57 percent), and Otago (55 percent).
Response rates
| Response rates by accommodation type for April 2010 |
| 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 |
94 |
81 |
| Motels |
85 |
86 |
68 |
| Backpackers |
77 |
83 |
65 |
| Holiday parks |
78 |
88 |
78 |
| Total |
83 |
89 |
74 |
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.
Accommodation pivot tables
The Accommodation pivot tables provide more detailed information, breaking the survey variables down by regional tourism organisation areas and territorial authority areas. These tables can be downloaded from the Statistics NZ website (www.stats.govt.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: May 2010 will be released on 12 July 2010.