The room occupancy rate and the bed occupancy rate of hotels in South Africa for May 2003 increased by 0,2% and 0,9% respectively, compared with May 2002, Statistics South Africa said on Thursday.
It said increases in the room occupancy rate were recorded in six of the nine provinces. The largest increase was recorded by the Eastern Cape (6,0%), followed by the North West (5,0%) and then KwaZulu-Natal (3,0%).
Decreases in room occupancy rate were recorded by Mpumalanga (-2,9%), Limpopo (-2,5%) and Western Cape (-2,3%).
Increases in bed occupancy rate were recorded in six of the nine provinces. Eastern Cape recorded the largest increase (5,3%) followed by North West (3,8%) and then KwaZulu-Natal (3,1%).
Decreases were recorded by Limpopo (-2.9%), Mpumalanga (-1,7%) and Western Cape (-1,4%).
The total hotel income for May 2003 increased by 13,2% compared with May 2002. Increases in the room occupancy rate were recorded in 12 of the 25 tourism regions for May 2003 compared with May 2002.
The rest of Eastern Cape tourism region recorded the largest increase (9,0%), followed by Little and Central Karoo tourism region (8,8%) and Pretoria tourism region (8,7%).
The largest decreases were recorded by Cape Metropole tourism region (- 4,2%), Overberg region (-3,5%) and Pietermaritzburg and Midlands tourism region (-3,4%).
Increases in the bed occupancy rate were recorded in 12 of the 25 tourism regions during the above-mentioned period. South Coast and Interior tourism region recorded the largest increase (9,6%), followed by Pretoria tourism region (9,3%) and then Little and Central Karoo tourism region (9,2%).
The largest decreases were recorded by Breede River tourism region (- 4,3%), Pietermaritzburg and Midlands tourism region (-4,0%) and Overberg tourism region (-3,9%).
Increases in total hotel income were recorded in 19 of the 25 tourism regions during May. South Coast and Interior tourism region recorded the largest increase (9,9%), followed by Pretoria tourism region (9,8%) and then Little and Central Karoo tourism region (9,6%).
The largest decreases were recorded by Overberg tourism region (-3,7%), Pietermaritzburg and Midlands tourism region (-2,7%) and Breede River tourism region (-2,6%). – I-Net Bridge