Income for SA's accommodation industry has fallen, Statistics SA said.

According to the Pretoria-based agency, total annual income for the accommodation industry for 2009 decreased by 9,6 percent compared with 2008.

The fourth quarter of 2009 reflected a year-on-year decrease of 4,4 percent.

However, Statistics SA said that total income for December 2009 increased by 4,6 percent compared with December 2008. Income from accommodation for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased by four percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2008, the agency added.

"This decrease was mainly due to the decrease of five percent in stay unit nights sold during the same period."

Income from accommodation in December 2009 increased by 4,1 percent compared with December 2008.

According to the agency, the number of stay units available for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 2,6 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2008.

"The number of stay units available in December 2009 increased by 2,5 percent compared with December 2008," Statistics SA said.

It added that the number of stay unit nights sold for the fourth quarter of 2009 decreased by five percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2008.

The number of stay unit nights sold in December 2009 increased by 2,2 percent compared with December 2008, Statistics SA said. - Sapa