8634.0 - Tourism Indicators, Australia, Jun 2000  
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This article was published in the June Quarter 2000 issue of Tourism Indicators, Australia (ABS Catalogue No. 8634.0).
A summary of the main findings is available on this site.


This article presents Australia, State and Territory counts of accommodation establishments and capacity for 1999 and comparisons with 1998. Data are presented in size categories to allow comparison with the results from the quarterly Survey of Tourist Accommodation (STA) collection.

The accommodation types covered include:

  • Hotels, motels and guest houses with facilities and serviced apartment establishments with 5 or more rooms;
  • Holiday flats, units and houses (other than those included with serviced apartments) which are operated by owners, managers or real estate agents who have sole letting rights to at least 5 flats, units or houses available for short-term letting;
  • Caravan parks with powered sites and/or cabins; and
  • Visitor hostels.


OVERVIEW

The number of accommodation establishments increased over the twelve months to the end of 1999. Visitor hostels (up 5% to 649) and serviced apartments (up 8% to 880) had the largest proportional increases. These two accommodation types also showed the largest increases in capacity - up 15% or 4,252 guest rooms for serviced apartments, and up 11% or 4,206 bed spaces for visitor hostels. Significant growth also occurred in letting entities with 5 to 14 holiday flats, units and houses, with an increase of 8% or 59 letting entities, contributing an additional 7% or 452 flats, units and houses since 1998.


HOTELS, MOTELS AND GUEST HOUSES AND SERVICED APARTMENTS

At the end of December 1999, there were a total of 5,705 hotels, motels and guest houses and serviced apartment establishments with 5 or more rooms providing a total of 208,874 guest rooms. Establishments with 15 or more rooms accounted for 66% of the establishments and 91% of the guest rooms.

The increase in the number of establishments since December 1998 was 3% while the increase in guest rooms was 4%. The number of guest rooms in establishments with 5 to 14 rooms rose by 2% to 18,795, while the number of guest rooms in larger establishments rose by 4% to 190,079.




Motels and guest houses accounted for nearly two thirds (64%) of the accommodation establishments in this group, and nearly half (47%) of the guest rooms. Licensed hotels comprised 21% of establishments and 37% of capacity, while serviced apartments, the fastest growing category, accounted for 15% of establishments and 16% of the capacity.

Licensed hotels

There were 1,191 licensed hotels with 5 or more rooms at the end of 1999, supplying a total 77,356 guest rooms. This represented an increase in the number of establishments since 1998 of 2% and an increase in capacity of 4%. Licensed hotels with 15 or more rooms comprised 64% of the establishments and 95% of the guest rooms in this category. At the end of 1999, licensed hotels with 5 to 14 rooms had an average of 9 rooms per establishment. The average number of rooms per establishment of those with more than 15 rooms, varied from 120 rooms in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory to 53 rooms in Tasmania.

Motels and guest houses

There were 3,634 motels and guest houses with 5 or more rooms at the end of December 1999, supplying a total of 98,298 guest rooms. One third of these had fewer than 15 rooms. Motels and guest houses showed the slowest growth of only 1% in establishments and 2% in capacity when compared with licensed hotels and serviced apartments. Motels and guest houses with 5 to 14 rooms showed most of the growth since 1998 in the number of establishments, up by 2% to be 1,221.

Serviced apartments

There were 880 serviced apartment establishments, providing a capacity of 33,220 guest rooms at the end of 1999. Serviced apartments showed the greatest growth in capacity between December 1998 and December 1999 with the number of establishments increasing by 8% and the number of guest rooms up by 15%. Queensland accounted for 40% of all serviced apartment establishments with an average size of 39 rooms per establishment.


HOTELS, MOTELS, GUEST HOUSES AND SERVICED APARTMENTS
At end of December 1998
At end of December 1999
% change 1998 to 1999
Establishments
Guest rooms
Establishments
Guest rooms
Establishments
Guest rooms
Licensed hotels with facilities
with 5 to 14 rooms
418
3,864
425
3,940
1.7
2.0
with 15 or more rooms
747
70,802
766
73,416
2.5
3.7
Total
1,165
74,666
1,191
77,356
2.2
3.6

Motels and guest houses
With 5 to 14 rooms
1,199
12,138
1,221
12,279
1.8
1.2
With 15 or more rooms
2,386
84,701
2,413
86,019
1.1
1.6
Total
3,585
96,839
3,634
98,298
1.4
1.5

Serviced apartments
With 5 to 14 rooms
263
2,410
280
2,576
6.5
6.9
With 15 or more rooms
552
26,558
600
30,644
8.7
15.4
Total
815
28,968
880
33,220
8.0
14.7

Total establishments
With 5 to 14 rooms
1,880
18,412
1,926
18,795
2.4
2.1
With 15 or more rooms
3,685
182,061
3,779
190,079
2.6
4.4
Total
5,565
200,473
5,705
208,874
2.5
4.2

HOTELS, MOTELS AND SERVICED APARTMENTS AT END 1999
NSW
Vic
Qld
SA
WA
Tas
NT
ACT
Australia
ESTABLISHMENTS
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

Licensed hotels with facilities
With 5-14 rooms
104
89
104
47
32
40
8
1
425
With 15 or more rooms
181
126
173
62
132
55
23
14
766
Total
285
215
277
109
164
95
31
15
1,191

Motels and guest houses
With 5-14 rooms
449
313
277
65
48
57
8
4
1,221
With 15 or more rooms
1,002
505
515
146
120
51
48
26
2,413
Total
1,451
818
792
211
168
108
56
30
3,634

Serviced apartments
With 5-14 rooms
83
43
97
21
19
14
3
-
280
With 15 or more rooms
123
74
252
26
66
24
17
18
600
Total
206
117
349
47
85
38
20
18
880

Total
With 5-14 rooms
636
445
478
133
99
111
19
5
1,926
With 15 or more rooms
1,306
705
940
234
318
130
88
58
3,779
Total
1,942
1,150
1,418
367
417
241
107
63
5,705
GUEST ROOMS

Licensed hotels with facilities
With 5-14 rooms
986
788
955
425
324
371
78
11
3,940
With 15 or more rooms
21,753
10,903
20,682
4,090
9,429
2,929
1,949
1,681
73,416
Total
22,739
11,691
21,637
4,515
9,753
3,300
2,027
1,692
77,356

Motels and guest houses
With 5-14 rooms
4,688
3,233
2,731
640
421
439
79
48
12,279
With 15 or more rooms
33,639
16,282
18,573
5,166
5,752
1,752
3,124
1,731
86,019
Total
38,327
19,515
21,304
5,806
6,173
2,191
3,203
1,779
98,298

Serviced apartments
With 5-14 rooms
712
380
955
212
171
114
32
-
2,576
With 15 or more rooms
5,929
4,132
12,640
1,207
3,414
865
1,153
1,304
30,644
Total
6,641
4,512
13,595
1,419
3,585
979
1,185
1,304
3,320

Total
With 5-14 rooms
6,386
4,401
4,641
1,277
916
924
189
59
18,795
With 15 or more rooms
61,321
31,317
51,895
10,463
18,595
5,546
6,226
4,716
190,079
Total
67,707
35,718
56,536
11,740
19,511
6,470
6,415
4,775
208,874


HOLIDAY FLATS, UNITS AND HOUSES

This category of accommodation covers holiday flats, units and houses which are operated by owners, managers or real estate agents who have sole letting rights to at least 5 flats, units or houses for short-term letting. These units do not meet the classification criteria for 'serviced apartments' which was introduced to the STA as a separate classification in the March quarter 1998. As a result, the statistics presented here are not comparable with data presented in the publication Tourist Accommodation, Australia (ABS Cat. no. 8635.0) up to and including the December quarter 1997.

At the end of 1999, there were 1,477 letting entities managing a total of 35,001 holiday flats, units and houses. Of the 1,477 letting entities, 44% managed 15 or more holiday flats or units, at an average of 44 units per letting entity. There were 834 letting entities that managed between 5 to 14 holiday flats or units, accounting for a total of 6,748 units.

Queensland had the greatest proportion of all letting entities (41%) at an average of 28 units per letting entity. The Australian Capital Territory had the highest average number of units per letting entity with an average of 39 units, although it had less than 1% of all letting entities.


HOLIDAY FLATS, UNITS AND HOUSES
Letting entities
Flats, units and houses
Letting entities at the end of 1998
With 5 to 14 holiday flats, units, etc.
775
6,296
With 15 or more holiday flats, units, etc.
696
29,669
Total
1,471
35,965

Letting entities at the end of 1999
With 5 to 14 holiday flats, units, etc.
834
6,748
With 15 or more holiday flats, units, etc.(a)
643
28,253
Total
1,477
35,001

% change 1998 to 1999
With 5 to 14 holiday flats, units, etc.
7.6
7.2
With 15 or more holiday flats, units, etc.
-7.6
-4.8
Total
0.4
-2.7
(a) Counts are as at end of March 2000

HOLIDAY FLATS, UNITS AND HOUSES AT END 1999
Letting entities
With 5-14 holiday flats, units & houses
With 15 or more holiday flats, units & houses(a)
Total
NSW
Letting entities
275
157
432
Flats, units and houses
2,184
8,556
10,740

VIC
Letting entities
152
30
182
Flats, units and houses
1,127
1,762
2,889

QLD
Letting entities
222
385
607
Flats, units and houses
1,966
15,030
16,996

SA
Letting entities
63
20
83
Flats, units and houses
458
941
1,399

WA
Letting entities
88
30
118
Flats, units and houses
747
1,271
2,018

TAS
Letting entities
30
11
41
Flats, units and houses
230
233
463

NT
Letting entities
3
4
7
Flats, units and houses
24
196
220

ACT
Letting entities
1
6
7
Flats, units and houses
12
264
276

Australia
Letting entities
834
643
1,477
Flats, units and houses
6,748
28,253
35,001
(a) Counts are as at end of March 2000


CARAVAN PARKS

At the end of 1999, there were 2,643 caravan parks across Australia, with powered site and cabin capacity of 221,441. This represented an decrease over the twelve month period of 3% in the number of caravan parks, and a decrease of 2% in the number of powered sites and cabins. Of the 2,643 caravan parks at the end of 1999, 1,827 or 69% had 40 or more powered sites, and accounted for 91% of all powered sites.

At the end of 1999, the greatest number of caravan parks (789 or 30%) were in New South Wales. New South Wales also had the greatest capacity, providing 75,622 or 34% of all powered sites and cabins. While Queensland provided the second largest number of establishments overall (599 or 23%) it ranked third to Victoria in the number of powered sites and cabins. For caravan parks with fewer than 40 powered sites Queensland had the greatest number of both establishments and powered sites and cabins (29%) followed by New South Wales (27%).


CARAVAN PARKS(a)
Establishments
Powered sites and cabins
At end of 1998
With fewer than 40 powered sites
795
19,153
With 40 or more powered sites
1,924
206,715
Total
2,719
225,868

At end of 1999
With fewer than 40 powered sites
816
19,626
With 40 or more powered sites(b)
1,827
201,815
Total
2,643
221,441

% change 1998 to 1999
With fewer than 40 powered sites
2.6
2.5
With 40 or more powered sites
-5.0
-2.4
Total
-2.8
-2.0
(a) Unpowered site statistics not available
(b) Counts are as at end of March 2000

CARAVAN PARKS AT END 1999
With fewer than 40
powered sites
With 40 or more
powered sites(a)
Total
NSW
Establishments
218
571
789
Powered sites and cabins
5,287
70,335
75,622

VIC
Establishments
146
428
574
Powered sites and cabins
3,720
47,163
50,883

QLD
Establishments
234
365
599
Powered sites and cabins
5,710
35,416
41,126

SA
Establishments
56
152
208
Powered sites and cabins
1,358
15,788
17,146

WA
Establishments
103
216
319
Powered sites and cabins
2,223
23,133
25,356

TAS
Establishments
27
44
71
Powered sites and cabins
586
4,288
4,874

NT
Establishments
32
47
79
Powered sites and cabins
742
5,075
5,817

ACT
Establishments
-
4
4
Powered sites and cabins
-
617
617

Australia
Establishments
816
1,827
2,643
Powered sites and cabins
19,626
201,815
221,441
(a) Counts are as at end of March 2000


VISITOR HOSTELS

At the end of 1999, there were 649 visitor hostels across Australia, with 42,500 bed spaces at an average of 65 beds per hostel. The number of visitor hostels has increased over the twelve months to the end of 1999 by 5% while the number of bed spaces increased 11%. The largest proportional growth occurred in hostels with fewer than 25 bed spaces, where the number of establishments increased 15% to 171, and bed spaces were up 16% to 2,708.

Queensland accounted for the largest number of establishments overall (176 or 27%) providing 13,267 bed spaces or 31% of all bed spaces. Queensland also accounted for the largest number of establishments with 25 or more bed spaces (152 or 32%) providing 12,846 bed spaces or 32% of all bed spaces. While Victoria had 15% of all bed spaces, it had 24% of the bed spaces in hostels with fewer than 25 bed spaces, ahead of both new South Wales (22%) and Queensland (16%).


VISITOR HOSTELS
Establishments
Bed spaces
Visitor hostels at end of 1998
With fewer than 25 bed spaces
149
2,341
With 25 or more bed spaces
467
35,953
Total
616
38,294
Visitor hostels at end of 1999
With fewer than 25 bed spaces
171
2,708
With 25 or more bed spaces(a)
478
39,792
Total
649
42,500
% change 1998 to 1999
With fewer than 25 bed spaces
14.8
15.7
With 25 or more bed spaces
2.4
10.7
Total
5.4
11.0
(a) Counts are as at end of March 2000

VISITOR HOSTELS AT END 1999
With fewer than 25
bed spaces
With 25 or more
bed spaces(a)
Total
NSW
Establishments
42
106
148
Bed spaces
606
9,685
10,291

VIC
Establishments
40
61
101
Bed spaces
655
5,893
6,548

QLD
Establishments
24
152
176
Bed spaces
421
12,846
13,267

SA
Establishments
24
31
55.0
Bed spaces
344
2,105
2,449

WA
Establishments
15
70
85
Bed spaces
243
4390
4633

TAS
Establishments
23
28
51
Bed spaces
381
1,712
2,093

NT
Establishments
3
30
33
Bed spaces
58
3,161
3,219

ACT
Establishments
-
-
-
Bed spaces
-
-
-

Australia
Establishments
171
478
649
Bed spaces
2,708
39,792
42,500
(a) Counts are as at end of March 2000

For further information about these statistics, or if you wish to find out about regional capacity estimates for tourist Accommodation establishments, please contact Paull Hoffmann on Brisbane 07 3222 6201.