Finance · South Africa
South African Hotels Still Facing Challenges Despite Recovery Signs
Moneyweb · 2026/02/13
Summary
The South African hotel industry is facing ongoing challenges despite signs of recovery. While it may seem like the sector is bouncing back, deeper analysis shows that many hotels are still struggling with low occupancy and reduced income. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with economic difficulties like inflation and reduced travel budgets, continues to affect business performance. Many hotels have had to cut costs or reduce staff to survive, and the overall industry is still vulnerable. This means that the recovery is uneven, with bigger or more luxury hotels sometimes doing better, while smaller or budget hotels struggle. The future depends on increased local and international travel, better economic conditions, and government support to help the industry stabilize.
OnABudget takeaway: For consumers, this might mean fewer affordable hotel options or higher prices as hotels try to stay afloat. Small business owners in the tourism sector should be cautious and budget for a slow recovery.