MHRA queries tourism figures

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association yesterday cast doubts on official tourism statistics during a meeting with Labour leader Alfred Sant.

MHRA president Winston Zahra described the tourism situation as very worrying and he expressed doubts over the methods being used by the National Statistics Office to compile tourism figures. Bookings for winter together with the budget proposals would offer little reprieve to the sector, Mr Zahra said.

Dr Sant remarked that official statistics claimed that revenue from tourism had increased by Lm23 million.