New Zealand hotels saw a 7% rise in night stays in August 2010, according to Statistics New Zealand’s monthly accommodation review.

Global visitor nights rose by 2% over the same period in 2009, which declined by 5.5% in a month-on-month comparison, the review revealed.

The hike was attributed to the increasing number of foreign guest stays.

But 12 regions in New Zealand recorded a decline in guest stays with 12% in the Taranaki / Manawatu-Wanganui region, followed by 7% in Wellington and 9% in Waikato.