Tourism up 10.6% last year

Official figures issued today confirmed a 10.9 percent increase in tourist arrivals in December and a 10.6 percent increase for the whole year when compared to 2006.

The National Statistics Office said 51,532 tourists came in December, with an increase in holidaymakers mainly from the Scandinavian, French and German markets. By contrast, a decrease was registered in tourists from the United Kingdom, Italy and Switzerland.

Arrivals in the whole of 2007 totalled 1,243,510, with the British, Scandinavian and Irish markets showing the steepest increases. Decreases were recorded with respect to the Austrian, Dutch and Belgian markets.

Although there was an increase in repeat tourism, data show that the overall increase was primarily among first-time visitors. The largest age bracket comprised tourists aged 45 -64, albeit the strongest increase was in tourists aged 25 - 44.

Total nights spent increased by 3.3 per cent when compared to 2006, with the biggest increase being in five-star hotels.

The average length of stay of inbound tourists for 2007 is calculated at 8.9 nights, down by 0.6 nights when compared to 2006.