1. Introduction.
Our web site www.nzhomestay.co.nz celebrates its 9th birthday on the 6th of August 2006.
In line with the results of June 2006, July 2006 started off better than July 2005 but forward bookings then almost ceased during the last two weeks of July 2006.
The average number of daily individual visitors to www.nzhomestay.co.nz was up over 53% compared to July 2005. The highest daily average individual visitor total reached was over 1063 per day in the second week in July 2006. The daily average visitor rate then dropped to 836 in the last 2 weeks of July 2006.
2. Statistics.
Bookings were received from 4 Countries in July 2006 compared to 10 in July 2005.
17% of our Hosts received at least one booking exactly the same percentage as July 2005. The number of bed nights booked was 24% down on July 2005.
3. General.
In spite of a good start to July 2006, forward bookings fell away in the last two weeks of that month. It may be a coincidence, but we have noticed over the past 6 years since we installed our on line booking system, that every time there is a natural disaster or a war or terrorist incident, all bookings cease for a period of time, in the past, up to one week.
The length of the period of forward bookings pause seems to depend on the severity of the incident. In July two major tragedies have occurred, one in India and the ongoing one in the Middle East.
