Highest ‘Post-Covid’ Figures for Accommodation Providers Recorded

Media release – Tasmanian Hospitality Association, 31 March 2023

Highest post-Covid figures for accommodation providers recorded

Tasmania’s standing as a tourist drawcard in the post Covid era is entrenched with accommodation figures hitting single-month figures not seen since 2019.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association’s ‘Hotel Occupancy Report’ for February shows 89.06 per cent of rooms across the state were filled for the month. This is marginally higher than the 88.15 per cent recorded from March 2022 and is the highest month since February 2019 (89.32 per cent).

The last month of summer continues to prove the best for Tasmania’s accommodation sector. The average February room occupancy between 2015-1019 was 89.44 per cent, this year’s figure is an increase of 5.9 per cent from January, and it continues the popularity of the island for both visitors and travelling locals.

In total the 2022-23 summer saw 82.52 per cent of rooms booked, an increase of 9.46 per cent from the previous summer quarter when the borders were re-opened to the entirety of mainland Australia just prior to Christmas 2021.

“Our latest figures prove we have well and truly returned to the pre-Covid levels of popularity, with our summer figures on par with the 2019-20 summer when our hospitality industry was at its peak,” THA chief executive Steve Old said.

“There is a reason why Tasmania continues to be on the must-visit list of so many people interstate – it’s because of our wonderful produce, our incredible experience offerings and our welcoming staff.

“You only have to look at the recent national Tourism Awards, which saw operators from Dunalley to St Helens to Stanley recognised, to see the quality we possess right across the state.”

Fresh from registering the best January figures on record, northern Tasmania nearly eclipsed the 90 per cent occupancy mark for February (89.97 percent), with southern Tasmania figures 89.02 per cent and the north-west coast just as strong with 88.07 per cent of rooms filled.

The median room rate came in at $225, with the average yield $201.21 representing a change of more than $40 from 12 months ago.