Inbound tourism up 7.6 per cent

An estimated 825,874 tourists arrived in the first eight months of the year, implying an increase of 7.6 per cent over the corresponding period a year ago, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

The growth was primarily attributable to an increase in holiday visits, mainly from the British, Irish, Scandinavian and American markets.

Decreases were recorded in the Dutch, French, Austrian and Belgian markets.

Tourists coming from EU member states amounted to 86.9 per cent of all inbound visits.

The NSO said that tourist departures this August were estimated at 176,372, implying an increase of 7.3 per cent over the same month last year.

The increase reflects primarily a rise in holiday makers mainly from the British, Irish and German markets, contrasting with a decline in tourists from Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Total nights spent rose by 6.7 per cent when compared to the same month in 2006.

Year-on-year, total nights spent in private accommodation increased by 27.3 per cent and total nights in collective accommodation dropped by 3.1 per cent.

Overall, the average length of stay is calculated at 10.9 nights, shorter by 0.1 nights when compared to August 2006.

The NSO said that in the first eight months this year total nights spent are estimated to be on a par when compared to the same period in 2006.

During the period under review, total tourist expenditure is estimated at Lm311.2 million, an increase of 4.6 per cent over the same period a year earlier.

The survey results indicate that the per capita total expenditure is estimated at Lm386, down by two per cent when compared to the same period in the previous year.

In a statement to mark World Tourism Day yesterday, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said that the positive trend in the tourism sector registered throughout all the months this year was also confirmed in August.

"There could not have been a more appropriate background than the figures published by the NSO to mark the day," he said.

Statistics showed that August was one of the best months in the history of tourism in Malta and the results for the first eight months were the best achieved since 2001, he said.

Dr Zammit Dimech said figures obtained from the airport also show a positive trend for September which is showing an encouraging increase.