WELLINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Guest nights spent in short-term accommodation reached record levels in January, New Zealand's statistics department Stats NZ said on Monday.

Guest nights rose to 4.97 million, 1.4 percent higher than in January 2017, Stats NZ said.

Hotels and holiday parks were especially busy, with more international guest nights in January 2018. However, fewer New Zealanders stayed in motels than in January last year, it said, adding that January is typically the height of the peak season for many accommodation operators, and usually the time when record highs are set.

"International guest nights also reached their highest-ever level in January, even as international visitor arrivals dipped slightly in the month," accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said in a statement, adding this may be because some people who arrived at the end of 2017 stayed on in January.

Of all accommodation types, hotel guest nights increased the most in January 2018, up 6 percent, boosted by both domestic and international guest nights. Guest nights spent in holiday parks increased 3.2 percent, driven by increased international guest nights, McKenzie said, adding that motels also benefited from record international guests, but had fewer Kiwis stay.

In the year ended January 2018, 39.53 million guest nights were spent in short-term commercial accommodation, 2.5 percent more than the previous January year and more than any other 12-month period, statistics show.

Over the same period, international visitor arrivals numbered 3.73 million, 5 percent up on the January year before. New Zealand residents took 2.87 million trips overseas, up 9 percent, Stats NZ said.