NZ guest nights fell in May, snapping 25 consecutive monthly gains
National guest nights declined 0.4% to 2.3 million in May from the same month a year earlier.
New Zealand guest nights fell in May, snapping 25 consecutive months of rises, as fewer domestic guest nights offset a gain in international stays.
National guest nights declined 0.4% to 2.3 million in May from the same month a year earlier, which was a record for the month, Statistics NZ said. Domestic guest nights dropped 6.4% in the latest month, while international guest nights jumped 9.7%, the statistics agency said.
The country's accommodation sector has been on a tear as record tourism pushes up demand for beds. However, that's softened in the latest data, with seven of the 12 regional areas experiencing fewer guest nights.
Guest nights spent in the North Island slipped 1.2% to 1.5 million in May, while South Island guest nights advanced 1% to 873,000.
The Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui region led the declines, with guest nights falling 11% to 105,000 from the year-earlier month, followed by Waikato which dropped 7.3% to 177,000, and Wellington which slid 6.4% to 216,000. Southland recorded the biggest increase in guest nights for the month, up 11% to 58,000.
The overall occupancy rate for commercial accommodation advanced to 34.8% from 34.3% in the year-earlier month. The hotel occupancy rate increased to 60.7% from 58.2%, the backpacker occupancy rate edged up to 35.7% from 35.5%, while the occupancy rate at holiday parks advanced to 10.9% from 10.7%. Motel occupancy rates declined to 46.7% from 46.9%.
(BusinessDesk)
Tina Morrison
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
Tue, 12 Jul 2016
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NZ guest nights fell in May, snapping 25 consecutive monthly gains
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