June was off the chart - thanks to All Blacks

Guest figures in Taranaki saw a massive June spike thanks to the sellout All Blacks test match, auguring well for crowd numbers at 2011's World Cup.

Statistics New Zealand's Commercial Accommodation Monitor shows a 35.3 per cent increase in guest nights in June 2010 compared to the previous June.

"As expected, the All Blacks match attracted thousands of fans from outside the Taranaki region," said Venture Taranaki spokeswoman, Ellen Varoy.

"The timing of the match proved successful in addressing seasonal gaps in Taranaki visitor numbers, with 35,927 guest nights recorded for the month of June."

The All Blacks v Ireland test at Yarrow Stadium was played on June 12, just after the ground had been redeveloped for next year.

It was the first test match of the 2010 season and the second time the All Blacks have played at Yarrow Stadium, attracting more than 25,000 fans, as well as a large contingent of Irish supporters. Ireland will play their first World Cup game at Yarrow Stadium against the United States on September 11, 2011. The Americans play Russia on September 15, and Wales will take on Namibia on September 26.

"The [June] match therefore presented a fantastic opportunity for the Taranaki region to tests its accommodation infrastructure for the upcoming 2011 Rugby World Cup," said Mrs Varoy.

"The Taranaki region's occupancy rate rose from 21.3 per cent to 26 per cent from June 2009 to June 2010 and average length of stay rose from 1.85 to 1.9 days.

"This is a reflection of the high level of demand for commercial accommodation as a result of the All Blacks match."

As well as the rugby, the number of mid-sized conferences held in Taranaki during June was also a contributing factor to the elevated number of guest nights in the region.

"Taranaki remains strong as a desirable destination to do business."

- © Fairfax NZ News