For the three months ended April, total accommodation income rose 9.3% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
South Africa's accommodation sector continued to attract more guests in April despite mounting pressure on household finances, with more rooms occupied – although they seem to have paid less per night than a year ago.
Statistics South Africa's latest Accommodation Industry Survey showed total income from accommodation rose by 6.5% year-on-year in April, driven largely by increased occupancy rather than higher prices.
The figures come against a challenging backdrop for consumers. Petrol prices surged sharply in April, contributing to inflation accelerating from 3.1% in March to 4% in April, before climbing to 4.5% in May. The South African Reserve Bank subsequently raised the repo rate by 25 basis points, taking prime to 10.5% at the end of May.
Statistics South Africa data suggests the accommodation sector remained resilient despite those economic headwinds. Stay unit nights sold increased by 9.0% compared with April last year, while occupancy rose to 44.1%.
