Following positive news earlier this month of record overseas visitor arrivals for December, total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation for December 2009 were up 4 percent compared to December last year.
The South Island continues to out perform the North Island. When compared with December 2008, guest nights in the North Island were up 3 percent with the South Island again propping up overall guest nights by achieving a 6 percent gain.
Eleven of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in December 2009 compared with December 2008. The regions showing the largest increases were split between the North and South Island:
- Otago, up 39,000 (10 percent)
- Canterbury, up 25,000 (5 percent)
- Bay of Plenty, up 23,000 (7 percent)
- Northland, up 16,000 (9 percent)
International visitor guest nights in December 2009 contributed the most to the overall guest night improvement with an increase of 7 percent compared with December 2008.
It was pleasing that domestic guest nights reversed the negative trend achieved last month by increasing 3 percent from December 2008.
For the first time in many months all four accommodation types had more guest nights in December 2009 than in December 2008:
- Hotels, up 66,000 (8 percent)
- Holiday parks, up 28,000 (3 percent)
- Backpackers, up 24,000 (5 percent)
- Motels, up 19,000 (2 percent).
2009, followed by backpackers (48 percent), and motels (47 percent).
Traditionally, December is one of the quieter trading months and it has to be said that when compared to a low base month last year the results while pleasing are not remarkable. We are looking forward to January's results that will give a very good insight into the economic health of the accommodation industry.
The guest night distribution amongst the accommodation sectors in January may also be revealing.
Source: Click HERE
