Accommodation types
Tourist accommodation in New Zealand form a hierarchy based on cost and status. A typical accommodation hierarchy is shown in Figure 3.
Every destination will not have the complete range of accommodation (represented in Figure 3) and some may be combined. Standard hotels for example may also have motel accommodation on site and campervan travellers may use a motor camp to access the facilities. Bed and breakfast/homestays have a hierarchy of their own based on costs and facilities. This form of accommodation may also include specialised types such as farm and vineyard stays.
Traditionally the more expensive accommodation has been predominantly used by international tourists while the cheaper types have been dominated by domestic tourists. A blurred distinction now exists between domestic and international visitors in New Zealand as a result of the increase in the number of 'backpacker' holiday makers.
Data on Christchurch accommodation
Christchurch has 30 hotels and 43 motels as listed in the Automobile Association New Zealand Accommodation Guide 2004. Twenty bed and breakfast (hosted accommodation) operators are also listed in the guide. Approximately 19 holiday parks offering backpacker accommodation, camping sites and cabins are located around Christchurch.
Table 4: Accommodation used by international visitors in Canterbury
| Accommodation type |
Accommodation
Nights |
% of total |
| Private home |
776,700 |
24.1 |
| Hotel |
769,000 |
23.8 |
| Student accommodation |
472,500 |
14.6 |
| Backpackers/Hostel |
384,500 |
11.9 |
| Motel |
328,600 |
10.2 |
| Rented accommodation |
232,900 |
7.2 |
| Farmstay/Homestay |
100,300 |
3.1 |
| Caravan/Campervan |
63,000 |
1.9 |
| Cabin/Tourist flat |
40,400 |
1.2 |
| Tent Site |
26,800 |
0.8 |
| Luxury lodge |
6,000 |
0.2 |
| Other |
27,600 |
1.0 |
| Total accommodation nights |
3,228,300 |
100.0 |
Source: International visitor survey (year ended December 2005).
Table 5: Accommodation used by domestic visitors in Canterbury
| Accommodation type |
Accommodation
Nights |
% of total |
| Hotel |
634,387 |
11.6 |
| Motel |
1,041,457 |
19.1 |
| Backpacker |
84,409 |
1.6 |
| Caravan park |
441,932 |
8.1 |
| Hosted |
32,119 |
0.6 |
| Other commercial |
72,720 |
1.3 |
| Private accommodation |
3,140,652 |
57.7 |
| Accommodation unknown |
0 |
0.0 |
| Total accommodation nights |
5,447,676 |
100.0 |
Source: New Zealand Domestic Travel Survey (year ended March 2005).
References
New Zealand Automobile Association. (2003). Automobile Association New Zealand Accommodation Guide, 2004. Auckland, New Zealand: AA Guides Limited.
Sleeman, R. and Simmons, D.G. (2003). Christchurch and Canterbury Visitor Profile and Forecasts. Tourism Recreation Research and Education Centre (TRREC), Lincoln University, Report No. 30.
Learning activities
- Suggest which types of tourist would use each type of accommodation in the hierarchy.
- Which types of accommodation are not common in Christchurch? Suggest reasons why this is so.
- From Table 4, list the three most popular accommodation types. Suggest reasons why these are the most important. Do the same for Table 5.
- Suggest reasons why staying in private homes accounts for 24 percent of total international visitor nights, but accounts for almost 58 per cent of domestic visitor nights.