Accommodation Survey: June 2008

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 1.7 million in June 2008, a 5 percent decrease compared with June 2007 and a 1 percent increase compared with June 2006.

The trend for total guest nights has been increasing since January 2006. In June 2008, the trend level was 3 percent higher than in June 2007 and 8 percent higher than in June 2006.

For the year ended June 2008, total guest nights increased 2 percent compared with the previous June year.

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.1 million in June 2008, a decrease of 6 percent compared with June 2007 and 1 percent compared with June 2006.

The trend for North Island guest nights has been increasing since January 2006. In June 2008, the trend level was 1 percent higher than in June 2007 and 6 percent higher than in June 2006.

For the year ended June 2008, North Island guest nights increased 2 percent compared with the previous June year.

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.6 million in June 2008, a decrease of 5 percent compared with June 2007 and an increase of 3 percent compared with June 2006.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been relatively flat since mid-2007. In June 2008, the trend level was similar to June 2007 and 5 percent higher than in June 2006.

For the year ended June 2008, South Island guest nights increased 3 percent compared with the previous June year.

Guest nights by region

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

• Waikato (down 22,000 or 13 percent)
• Otago (down 20,000 or 9 percent).

The only region to record an increase was Wellington, up 2,000 or 1 percent.

For the year ended June 2008, seven of the 12 regions recorded higher guest nights than the year ended June 2007, led by:

• Auckland (up 308,000 or 6 percent)
• Canterbury (up 276,000 or 5 percent)
• Wellington (up 122,000 or 5 percent).
• Waikato had the largest decrease, down 106,000 or 4 percent.

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

International Travel and Migration: June 2008 shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in June 2008 were down 3,100 (2 percent) from June 2007. This followed a decrease of 300 (less than 1 percent) in May 2008 compared with May 2007.

The estimated average number of visitors who were in New Zealand during June 2008 was up 8 percent from June 2007.

New Zealand resident short-term departures for June 2008 were down 22,300 (11 percent) from June 2007. This followed an increase of 2,600 (2 percent) in May 2008 compared with May 2007.

Origin of guests

In June 2008, domestic guest nights were 1.1 million while international guest nights were 0.6 million. Auckland and Canterbury were the top two regions for both domestic and international guest nights.

Domestic guest nights were 63 percent of total guest nights. In the North Island, domestic guest nights contributed 67 percent of the North Island's total guest nights. In the South Island, domestic guest nights were 54 percent of its total. Ten of the 12 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 June 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 those for accommodation type.

Guest nights by accommodation type

In June 2008, guest nights for three of the five accommodation types decreased compared with June 2007. Motels had the largest decrease, down 91,000 (14 percent), followed by caravan parks/camping grounds, down 29,000 (14 percent).

In June 2008, hotels had the largest share of total guest nights (38 percent), followed by motels (34 percent) and backpackers/hostels (17 percent).

For the year ended June 2008, three accommodation types had higher guest nights than the year ended June 2007. Hotels had the largest increase, followed by caravan parks/camping grounds and backpackers/hostels.

For the year ended June 2008, motels had the largest share of total guest nights (33 percent), followed by hotels (32 percent), caravan parks/camping grounds (20 percent) and backpackers/hostels (14 percent).

Occupancy rate

In June 2008, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 38 percent, compared with 40 percent in June 2007.

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

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (43 percent) of all the accommodation types in June 2008, followed by motels (38 percent) and backpackers/hostels (35 percent).

Excluding the caravan parks/camping grounds category, the Auckland region had the highest occupancy rate (51 percent) in June 2008, followed by Wellington (50 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: July 2008 will be released on 11 September 2008.