Sat 7 Feb 2009
Posted by Travelman under Other Reviews
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Statistics New Zealand figures showed a 4.3 percent decline in national accommodation sales for the month on a year-on-year basis.
Most regions experienced a downturn, with Bay of Plenty, Otago and Auckland suffering the biggest drops.
Alongside Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, Wellington posted an increase in guest nights. The western Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu regions also recorded small increases.
While November figures were most likely boosted by political supporters and National Party entourages after the October election, the city held up resoundingly well all year.
Wellington has had a single month of declining year-on-year visitor numbers in 2008, with August down 2.5 per cent on the previous August.
Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks said Wellington's marketing strategy was diverse, aimed at domestic and international tourists.
"Most of the other regions choose to do one or the other. It means we don't have all our eggs in one basket."
Most of the national decline was due to international visitor nights declining 8 per cent, while domestic tourists' overnight stays only dropped 1 per cent.
Mr Perks said there was more work to do to bolster international visitor numbers for the region, but the decline in growth was less than other regions.
He said the triple focus on domestic, international and event markets gave Wellington an edge.
There was a continual need to invest in major events like the World of Wearable Arts and the Rugby Sevens tournament, but also to encourage "B-list" events such as the International Jazz Festival.
"If we can lift some of those to be bigger events, we do that," Mr Perks said.
Another $500,000 had been earmarked for marketing Wellington in one of the main cities in Australia.
YHA Wellington general manager Chris Sperring said the tales of woe for tourism had yet to hit his Wakefield St hostel, which was all but full last night and had enjoyed at least 80 per cent occupancy throughout last winter, the low season.
The hostel had diversified to attract a range of tourists and Wellington's stellar events schedule had helped.
"The amount of good quality events we pick up in Wellington is just fantastic," he said.
Mr Perks said the offshore marketing happening now was aimed at drumming up business several years ahead.
Cruise ship numbers, which did not contribute to accommodation sales, had remained constant despite the economic downturn and boosted retail spending on quieter days, he said.
He noted hotel occupancies were looking good through to March, after which they softened.
Mr Sperring said tourists were not booking as far ahead, which was creating issues as drop-in inquiries often had to be turned away from a full house.
With the rugby sevens tournament on Waitangi weekend looming, he was expecting to have to turn away tourists "in droves".