Income from the accommodation industry increased by 23,7% in July 2010 year-on-year, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) announced on Monday.

The main contributors to the increase were hotels, adding 40% and other accommodation, increasing by 34,4%.

For the three months ended July 2010, income from the accommodation industry increased by 23,9% compared with the three months ended July 2009.

According to StatsSA, the increase was helped by a rise of 32,6% in the average income per stay unit night sold during the same period.

Stay units available in July 2010 increased by 2,4% and the number of stay unit nights sold in decreased by 0,6% in the same period.