Accommodation Survey: January 2009

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 4.3 million in January 2009, a 3 percent decrease compared with January 2008 and a 1 percent decrease compared with January 2007.

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

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 2.5 million in January 2009, a 4 percent decrease compared with January 2008 and a 3 percent decrease compared with January 2007.

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

Guest nights in the South Island were 1.9 million in January 2009, a 2 percent decrease compared with January 2008 and a similar number to January 2007.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been decreasing since September 2007. The trend level is now 4 percent lower than the September 2007 peak. 

Guest nights by region

In January 2009, nine of the 12 regions recorded fewer guest nights than in January 2008, with the following regions showing the largest decreases:

• Northland (down 37,000 or 10 percent)
• Auckland (down 35,000 or 6 percent)
• Canterbury (down 32,000 or 5 percent).

The Taranaki/Manawatu-Wanganui region had the largest increase, up 7,000 (4 percent).

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: January 2009 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in January 2009 were down 9,500 (4 percent) from January 2008. This fall follows an increase of 4,900 (2 percent) in December 2008 compared with December 2007.

There were fewer visitors on holiday (down 6,500 or 5 percent) in January 2009 compared with January 2008, while there were more visiting friends and relatives (up 2,700 or 4 percent). There were fewer visitors on business (down 4,700 or 24 percent).

New Zealand resident short-term departures for January 2009 were down 6,100 (5 percent) from January 2008. This follows a decrease of 12,400 (6 percent) in December 2008 compared with December 2007.

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Origin of guests

International visitors contributed 1.6 million guest nights in January 2009, down 121,000 or 7 percent from January 2008. Eight of the 12 regions showed decreases in international guest nights, led by:

• Auckland (down 56,000 or 18 percent)
• Bay of Plenty (down 21,000 or 14 percent)
• Northland (down 18,000 or 16 percent).

Waikato showed the largest increase in international guest nights, up 9,000 (9 percent). 

 

In January 2009, domestic guest nights were 2.7 million, down 33,000 (1 percent) from January 2008. Six of the 12 regions showed decreases in domestic guest nights, led by:

• Northland (down 19,000 or 8 percent)
• Canterbury and Waikato (both down 16,000 or 5 percent)
• Wellington (down 15,000 or 9 percent)
• Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman (down 15,000 or 6 percent).

The Auckland region showed the largest increase in domestic guest nights, up 21,000 (8 percent). 

 

In January 2009, there was a response rate of 72 percent to the Accommodation Survey question on 'origin of guests'. In January 2008, the response rate was 67 percent. Figures for those establishments that failed to respond have been imputed and such high levels of imputation can affect data quality, including comparisons between different months.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In January 2009, guest nights decreased for four of the five accommodation types compared with January 2008:

• Motels, down 63,000 (5 percent)
• Hotels, down 53,000 (5 percent)
• Caravan parks/camping grounds, down 47,000 (3 percent)
• Hosted, down 9,000 (12 percent).

Backpackers/hostels increased by 19,000 (4 percent).

In January 2009, caravan parks/camping grounds had the largest share of total guest nights (36 percent), followed by motels (27 percent) and hotels (23 percent). 
 

Occupancy rate

In January 2009, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 55 percent, compared with 59 percent in January 2008.

Accommodation capacity, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 3 percent above the January 2008 level.

Motels had the highest occupancy rate (58 percent) of all the accommodation types in January 2009, followed by backpackers/hostels and hotels (55 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, all 12 regions had lower occupancy rates in January 2009 than in January 2008. Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman had the highest occupancy rate (62 percent). No other region recorded an occupancy rate over 60 percent. 
 

Response rates

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 and/or similar areas. For more information, please see the technical notes of this release or contact Statistics New Zealand.

Survey sponsorship

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

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

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: February 2009 will be released on 9 April 2009.