Overall it's reasonably positive news with total guest nights in short-term commercial accommodation for November 2009 inching up by half a percent compared to November last year.
The game of two halves continue between the two Islands. When compared with November 2008, guest nights in the North Island were down 2 percent with the South Island propping up overall guest nights by achieving a 4 percent gain.
Eight of the 12 regions recorded more guest nights in November 2009 compared with November 2008. Significantly, the regions showing the largest increases continue to be in the South Island:
- Otago, up 23,000 (7 percent)
- Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman, up 7,000 (5 percent)
- Southland, up 6,000 (8 percent)
International visitors boosted overall guest nights in November 2009 with an increase of 2 percent compared with November 2008.
Disappointingly, domestic guest nights fell by 1 percent in November 2009 compared with November 2008. Accommodation operators looking for a strong rebound in the domestic market for the peak season may be somewhat disappointed. We suspect that the trending decline in domestic guest nights may continue into the critical month of January.
In November 2009, two of the four accommodation types had more guest nights than in November 2008:
- backpackers, up 26,000 (7 percent)
- holiday parks, up 14,000 (3 percent)
- motels, down 6,000 (1 percent)
- hotels, down 22,000 (2 percent).
Source: Click HERE
