Accommodation Survey: May 2008

Total guest nights

Total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation were 2.0 million in May 2008, an increase of 5 percent compared with May 2007, and 11 percent compared with May 2006.

The Autumn school holidays generally fall entirely in April but in 2008 these occurred later than usual, going into the first few days of May. This may have contributed to the increase, although the exact effect cannot be measured.

The trend for total guest nights has been increasing since January 2006. In May 2008, the trend level was 4 percent higher than in May 2007 and 9 percent higher than in May 2006.

 

Guest nights by island

Guest nights in the North Island were 1.3 million in May 2008, an increase of 6 percent compared with May 2007, and 12 percent compared with May 2006.

The trend for North Island guest nights has been increasing since June 2007. In May 2008, the trend level was 5 percent higher than in May 2007 and 10 percent higher than in May 2006.

Guest nights in the South Island were 0.8 million in May 2008, an increase of 3 percent compared with May 2007, and 8 percent compared with May 2006.

The trend for South Island guest nights has been relatively flat since mid-2007. An apparent increase in the trend in recent months should be treated with caution, as time series analysis suggests more data is required for the direction of the trend to be confirmed.

In May 2008, the trend level was 1 percent higher than in May 2007 and 7 percent higher than in May 2006.

 

Guest nights by region

In May 2008, eight of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights than in May 2007, with the following regions showing the largest increases:

• Auckland (up 40,000 or 10 percent)
• Wellington (up 22,000 or 12 percent)
• Canterbury (up 22,000 or 7 percent).

Guest nights for all the other regions had absolute changes of less than 4,500 guest nights.

Comparison with short-term overseas visitor arrival statistics

The External Migration: May 2008 release shows that short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in May 2008 were down 300 (less than 1 percent) from May 2007. This followed a decrease of 13,800 (7 percent) in April 2008 compared with April 2007.

The estimated average number of visitors who were in New Zealand during May 2008 was up 7 percent from May 2007.

New Zealand resident short-term departures for May 2008 were up 2,600 (2 percent) from May 2007. This followed an increase of 600 (less than 1 percent) in April 2008 compared with April 2007.

Origin of guests

In May 2008, domestic guest nights were 1.3 million while international guest nights were 0.8 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 68 percent of the North Island's total. In the South Island, domestic guest nights were 55 percent of its total. Eleven of the 12 regions had more domestic than international guest nights, with the West Coast being the exception.

 

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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 May 2008, there was a response rate of 66 percent to the Accommodation Survey question on 'origin of guests'. Prior to 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 May 2008, guest nights for four of the five accommodation types increased when compared with May 2007. Hotels had the largest increase, up 67,000 (10 percent), followed by backpackers/hostels, up 30,000 (10 percent).

The trend for hotel guest nights has been increasing since May 2007. The trend level in May 2008 was 8 percent higher than in May 2007.

Occupancy rate

In May 2008, the occupancy rate, excluding caravan parks/camping grounds, was 42 percent, the same as in May 2007.

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

Hotels had the highest occupancy rate (49 percent) of all the accommodation types in May 2008, followed by motels (43 percent) and backpackers/hostels (37 percent).

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

Next release ...

Accommodation Survey: June 2008 will be released on 12 August 2008.