Total income for the accommodation industry increased by 15.8% year on year (y/y) in December.

Total income for the accommodation industry (which includes restaurant sales, bar sales and other income) for the three months ended January 2012 increased by 15.8% compared with the three months ended January 2011.

Income from accommodation for the three months ended January 2012 increased by 17.9% compared with the corresponding period in 2011.

The increase was due to an increase of 12.7% in the number of stay unit nights sold and an increase of 4.6% in the average income per stay unit night sold.

Income from accommodation in January increased by 19.1% compared with January 2011.

Stats SA said the number of stay units available in January increased by 0.1% y/y. The number of stay units available for the three months ended January 2012 increased by 0.2% compared with the same period in 2011.

A stay unit is the unit of accommodation available to be charged out to guests, for example a powered site in a caravan park or a room in a hotel.

The number of stay unit nights sold in January increased by 13.6% y/y. Stay unit nights sold refers to the total number of stay units occupied on each night during the survey period.

The number of stay unit nights sold for the three months ended January 2012 increased by 12.7% compared with the three months ended January 2011.