March tourist arrivals down 21.4%
Tourist arrivals in March declined by 21.4 percent in March when compared to the corresponding month last year (when March was Easter month). The figures were practically unchanged when compared to March 2007
The NSO said today that 71,153 tourists came to Malta last month, of whom 77.1 percent were here on holiday and 13.2 percent on business.
Tourist nights dropped by 25.5 percent when compared to the corresponding month in 2008. Total nights spent in private accommodation decreased by 8.4 per cent, while guest nights in collective accommodation decreased by 29.7 percent.
Total tourist expenditure during the same period was estimated at €44.1 million, down by 29.4 per cent when compared to March 2008.
The January-March 2009 figures show a decline of 17.8 percent in arrivals, with the number of visitors reaching 174,039.
The NSO said there were fewer tourists from the German, British and Spanish markets. On the other hand, increases were recorded in the Italian, Libyan and Russian markets.
The majority of inbound tourists chose non-package travel, while the demand for package trips decreased by 24.4 percent. The largest proportion of inbound passengers were aged between 45 and 64, followed by those in the 25-44 age bracket.
Per capita total expenditure was estimated at €660, a decrease of 3.5 per cent over the comparable period last yea.
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Marie Louise Debono
May 1st 2009, 12:42
@Douglas Bagnall- Sir with due respect its your choose no body is stopping you from going to other countries for your winter holidays, there are pelnty more to take your place and we are not as you say desperate not with continous whinging British tourists thankyou verymuch, we in Malta are above such moanners amd Mr.Meldrews who are never satisfied. Have a nice trip to where ever is perfect. M.Louise.Debono (Maltese)
Douglas Bagnall
Apr 29th 2009, 18:45
We feel sorry for you, but I have said before, it is your own fault, lots of elderly people, like ourselves are still wintering abroad .
Spent quite a few winters (5 weeks at a time) with you but eventually had to give way to the so called English students with all the noise and drink it became too much for us and many of our friends too.
Sliema was ideal for us, but no more because of this noisy ignorant influx, we now winter in Majorca and are warmly welcomed by all, they quickly stamp this type of behavior out.
We would return to your lovely country tomorrow if it was as temperate as two years ago.
Mr & Mrs Bagnall
England
Steven Brockwell
Apr 29th 2009, 16:35
now with the swine flu it will drop even more? invest in our own economy cut back costings to all businesses what ever size. and cash flow will increase so will employment ? reverse what we are doing now? will give the reverse affect as to what we are experiencing now ?
Mary louise Galea
Apr 29th 2009, 13:35
i reckin we are going to see a bigger down turn witht he tourist industry that we have never esperience before now in the next few months. The recession is one main factor but equally just as bad the fear of the swine flu epidemic on the increase and moveing towards europe rapidly, so i guess alot of people are afraid to travel and Malta will suffer immensly and so will other countries that rely on tourism for their livliehood., so sit tight and don't hold your breath because its in the Air! and we will see more catering businesses going under and alot of hotels will be displaying their vacency signs galore. 2009 is proveing to be a bad year all wround, lets hope things will improve very soon but there is a little chance of that at this moment in time.
adrian agius
Apr 29th 2009, 11:49
when easter happens to be in different months the year after it's usless doing statistics, you have to compare it on 2 months instead of 1. So now we have to wait for the statistics for april which I am sure will be better than aprill 2008