For the 20th month in a row, New Zealand guest nights rose in November, as the tourism boom saw domestic and international travelers spend more nights in all types of accommodation.
Total guest nights increased 4.6 percent to 3.11 million in November 2015 from the same month a year earlier, according to Statistics New Zealand. Domestic guest nights jumped 5.2 percent, more than the 3.8 percent gain in international guest nights.
Total visitor arrivals in November 2015 rose 11 percent from the same month in 2014 to 300,500, led by visitors from China, Australia, the US, Korea and Taiwan.
"Guest nights continued to rise this month, with the South Island leading the way when compared with November 2014. The Otago region had the largest increase in guest nights, boosted mainly by Queenstown and Wanaka," business indicators manager Clara Eatherley said.
Nights spent in the South Island rose 7 percent to 1.29 million, with international guest nights rising 8 percent and domestic nights up 5.9 percent.
Regionally, this was led by Otago, which rose 11 percent. All five regions of the South Island posted increased guest nights, with Southland rising 6.9 percent, and the West Coast 5.5 percent.
SOUTH LEADS TOURISM BOOM
