Domestic visitors to Queenstown in September reached record numbers, with an 8.9% increase in guest nights, to 73,526.
According to Statistics New Zealand's Commercial Accommodation Monitor, total visitor nights for the resort were up 5.4% to 194,317 in September, while international visitor nights increased by 3.4% to 120,790 and accounted for 62.2% of all guest nights to the region.
For the year ended September 2013, total guest nights for the region increased by 9% to 2,721,073 compared with the previous year.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Graham Budd said the September results rounded off a very pleasing winter season in Queenstown.
''A notable trend throughout winter was the increase in average length of stay for our visitors and this has been largely responsible for guest night increases, rather than many more people arriving.
''This has clear benefits for our accommodation and hospitality sectors but may not translate so obviously to more business for ski areas, attractions and activity operators.
''However, overall, the general sense is that it was a good season.''
