SA tourism earns R1bn monthly
David Masango
2 June 2005
Local and international tourists are making South Africa one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Tourists contribute almost R1-billion to the country's economy each month, according to a Statistics South Africa survey.
The results of Stats SA's new Survey of Tourist Accommodation reveal that the average total monthly income in the tourist accommodation industry between September 2004 and January 2005 was R963.9-million.
The survey also showed that most of this income was derived from accommodation (66%), followed by income from restaurant and bar sales (25%).
"The survey also reveals that an average monthly total of 99 600 stay units (such as a hotel room or powered site in a caravan park) was available in the South African accommodation industry during that period," said Statistics South Africa's Itani Magwaba.
The largest contributor was hotels (47%), followed by "other accommodation" such as bed and breakfast
enterprises and lodges (34%).
Magwaba said the results of the new survey would also be used to compile estimates of tourism satellite accounts, which are in the process of being developed, and the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and its components.
Tourism satellite accounts cover tourism-related industries and products.
The survey was based on a new sample of approximately 800 enterprises drawn in July 2004 from Stats SA's business register.
It covered enterprises that are registered for income tax and are primarily involved in providing short-stay commercial accommodation, such as hotels, caravan parks and camping sites, guest-houses and guest-farms as well as other accommodation.
The new release is not comparable to the discontinued release - the Hotels Trading Statistics survey - which was based on a list of all hotels graded by the former South African Tourism Board.
Source BuaNews
| 
