The founder and CEO of Durban’s largest private-owned and independently-run hotel group speaks about the chain’s growth, its latest R800m mixed-use development in Umhlanga Ridge, prospects for tourism in Surf City post the floods and riots, and why his company doesn’t plan to expand beyond KZN.
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Income from accommodation decreased by 35.9% year-on-year in March 2021. (iStock)
The impact of the coronavirus related lockdowns and travel bans is still reflected in the tourism accommodation sector.
Data released by Stats SA shows a year-on-year negative trend for tourism accommodation in March this year.
Hotel accommodation has taken the biggest knock.
The tourist accommodation industry s unadjusted income has decreased by nearly half year-on-year, with hotels taking the biggest knock, Stats SA said on Monday.
Measured in nominal terms, the sector s total income decreased by 45.3% in March 2021 compared to March 2020.
This includes other income, for example from restaurants and bars.
The quarterly comparison, meanwhile, shows that income from accommodation decreased by just under 65% in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the first quarter of 2020.