Occupancy trends in the tourism industry last October reveal an overall increase in the use of bed-places when compared to the same month in 2003, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

This increase was evident across the five-star and four-star hotel categories and tourist villages. The highest net use level was recorded in the four-star hotel category at 75.8 per cent. This was followed by the five-star hotel category at 63.6 per cent.

Total nights spent in Malta and Gozo increased by 2.2 per cent when compared to same month in 2003.

In Malta alone, the highest occupancy levels for accommodation establishments were recorded in the four-star hotel category, which increased from 62.5 per cent in October 2003 to 73.1 per cent in October 2004.

Occupancy for the five-star category dropped from 99 per cent to 61.4 per cent. Increases in occupancy levels were recorded in the three-star hotel category and in tourist villages.

In the case of Gozo, the highest occupancy level was recorded in the five-star hotel category at 63.3 per cent, a decrease when compared to 97 per cent in October 2003. The occupancy level within the four-star hotel category was recorded at 61 per cent, an increase over the 52.2 per cent recorded in October 2003.