Tourism accommodation income saw significant growth in April 2025

ONE OF THE major pillars of the South African economy, the tourism sector, has seen some substantial growth year-on-year

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

According to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), tourism accommodation for April 2025 indicated that total income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 9.8% in April 2025 compared with April 2024.

The tourism and hospitality sector have welcomed the news as a huge positive for the sector.

Stats SA said that measured in nominal terms (current prices), total income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 9.8% in April 2025 compared with April 2024.

"Income from accommodation increased by 14.8% year-on-year in April 2025, the result of a 4.5% increase in the number of stay unit nights sold and a 9.9% increase in the average income per stay unit night sold.

In April 2025, the main contributors to the 14.8% year-on-year increase in income from accommodation were: 'other' accommodation (21.2% and contributing 7.5 percentage points); and hotels (11.1% and contributing 6.4 percentage points)."

Stats SA added that income from accommodation increased by 10.9% in the three months ended April 2025 compared with the three months ended April 2024.

"The main contributors to this increase were: hotels (12.7% and contributing 7.4 percentage points); and 'other' accommodation (8.6% and contributing 3.0 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted income from accommodation increased by 3.9% month-on-month in April 2025, following a decrease of 1.5% month-on-month in March 2025.