Total guest nights
Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 1.7 million in June 2010, a 7 percent increase compared with June 2009.
The trend had been increasing since December 2008, but appears to have decreased 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 1.1 million in June 2010, an 8 percent increase compared with June 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 0.6 million in June 2010, a 6 percent increase compared with June 2009.
The trend had been increasing since December 2008, but appears to have decreased in recent months. The recent decrease in the estimated trend should also be treated with caution.
Guest nights by region
Ten of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in June 2010 than in June 2009. The regions showing the largest increases were:
- Bay of Plenty, up 35,000 (24 percent)
- Otago, up 23,000 (11 percent)
- Auckland, up 23,000 (7 percent).
In June 2009, Bay of Plenty recorded its lowest number of guest nights in a June month since 2000, and has now returned to a similar level of June guest nights to that recorded from 2004 to 2007.
The regions recording decreases in June 2010 were:
- West Coast, down 3,000 (7 percent)
- Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, down 3,000 (4 percent).
Origin of guests
Domestic guest nights in June 2010 were 1.1 million, an increase of 92,000 (9 percent) from June 2009, and a 6 percent increase compared with June 2008. Ten of the 12 regions recorded more domestic guest nights in June 2010 than in June 2009.
The regions recording the largest increases in domestic guest nights were:
- Bay of Plenty, up 22,000 (22 percent)
- Auckland, up 19,000 (10 percent)
- Canterbury, up 14,000 (10 percent).
The regions recording fewer domestic guest nights were:
- Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, down 3,000 (6 percent)
- West Coast, down 1,000 (5 percent).
International visitors contributed 0.6 million guest nights in June 2010, 21,000 (4 percent) more than in June 2009, but still 4 percent fewer than in June 2008. International visitors provided 30 percent of total guest nights in the North Island and 44 percent of those in the South Island.
Seven of the 12 regions showed an increase in international guest nights in June 2010 compared with June 2009, led by:
- Bay of Plenty, up 13,000 (29 percent)
- Otago, up 12,000 (11 percent)
- Auckland, up 4,000 (3 percent).
The region with the largest decrease in international guest nights was Wellington, down 7,000 (15 percent).
Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics
International Travel and Migration: June 2010 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in June 2010 were up 10,600 (8 percent) from June 2009. This follows a decrease of 600 (less than 1 percent) in May 2010 compared with May 2009.
The estimated average number of visitors who were in New Zealand during June 2010 was up 2 percent compared with June 2009.
New Zealand resident short-term departures for June 2010 were also up, 13 percent compared with June 2009.
Guest nights by accommodation type
In June 2010, all four accommodation types had more guest nights than in June 2009.
Hotels had the largest increase in guest nights, up 58,000 (9 percent) compared with June 2009. Hotels also had the largest share of total guest nights (40 percent).
Following a period of decrease in 2008, the trend in hotel guest nights has generally been increasing, and is now 9 percent higher than the previous low in January 2009.
Increases in the other accommodation types were:
- motels, up 28,000 (5 percent)
- holiday parks, up 23,000 (14 percent)
- backpackers, up 3,000 (1 percent).
Occupancy rate
Excluding holiday parks, the occupancy rate in June 2010 was 38 percent, compared with 36 percent in June 2009. Accommodation capacity, excluding holiday parks, was 1 percent above the June 2009 level.
Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (44 percent) of all the accommodation types in June 2010, followed by motels (37 percent), and backpackers (32 percent).
Excluding the holiday parks category, nine of the 12 regions had higher occupancy rates in June 2010 than in June 2009. The Wellington region had the highest occupancy rate (49 percent), followed by Auckland (48 percent), and Otago, (42 percent).
Response rates
| Response rates by accommodation type for June 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 |
82 |
94 |
80 |
| Motels |
83 |
88 |
69 |
| Backpackers |
76 |
81 |
64 |
| Holiday parks |
77 |
85 |
74 |
| Total |
81 |
89 |
73 |
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 'Technical notes' in this release 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:
Christine Sadler or Clara Eatherley
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
Next release ...
Accommodation Survey: July 2010 will be released on 10 September 2010.