Tourism decline slows
Increases from Italian, Libyan markets
The number of tourists who visited Malta in August dropped by 3.5 percent to 172,395 when compared to the corresponding month last year, according to NSO figures issued today. Arrivals in July had dropped by 9.2%.
The National Statistics Office said total nights spent decreased by 5.5 percent in August.
The majority, or 97.3 percent of tourists who came to Malta in August came to Malta by air, an estimated 148,674 tourists on holiday, the majority from EU states. An additional 7,198 visited the island for business purposes.
Meanwhile, total nights spent in private accommodation increased by 4.4 percent, while guest nights in collective accommodation registered a drop of 11.1 percent.
Overall, the average length of stay was calculated at 10.4 nights, down by 0.2 nights when compared to 2008 levels.
Inbound tourists between January and August were estimated at 806,046, a decrease of 11 percent over the corresponding period in 2008.
In absolute terms, the change was mostly attributable to a decrease in holiday visits, mainly from the British, German and Scandinavian markets.
On the other hand increases were recorded in the Italian and Libyan markets.
Eighty nine percent of all inbound visits comprised tourists coming from EU states. The majority of inbound tourists chose non-package travel, while the demand for package trips decreased by 13.6 percent.
The largest proportion of inbound passengers were between 25 and 44 followed by those in the 45-64 age bracket. These two categories made up 72.2 per cent of total tourists.
Total nights during the reference period decreased by 10.6 percent when compared to 2008 levels.
Nights spent in private accommodation decreased by two percent, while guest nights in collective accommodation decreased by 14 percent. The average length of stay was calculated at 8.6 nights, at par with 2008 estimate.
In the period under review, total tourist expenditure was estimated at €639.3 million, a decline of 12.7 percent when compared to 2008.
Decreases were recorded throughout all expenditure categories. The survey results indicated that per capita total expenditure was estimated at €811, down by 1.1 percent in comparison with 2008.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
13 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Ben Wood
Sep 30th 2009, 03:02
@ Mark Borg
I am Anglo/Maltese and I do not come to Malta to avoid 'multicultarism'. In fact I love living in England and the richness of different people from all over the world. The media gives negative messages about multiculturalism sometimes but I really love it. Difference is great!!Oh and Im from Cambridge,England and get few up with some ex-pats who moan about 'foreigners' in England. Now YOU are the foreigner in someone elses country. Migration is a two way street!
Douglas Bagnall
Sep 29th 2009, 21:33
Keep it up, and the likes of Helen Abela, soon no English then you will be happy no?
W Spencer
Sep 29th 2009, 16:56
@ Helen Abela
With the numbers ( Official Maltese figures ) of British / German / Scandanavian / Spanish / Italian & Cruise Liner tourists, all down again this year.........who are these tourists you are talking about ??
Mark Cushcieri
Sep 29th 2009, 15:52
ofcourse we need british tourists...what we dont need is young students who split a maltese cheese cake between 3 ppl or a coke between 12 people...believe me i've seen it.
Helen Abela
Sep 29th 2009, 15:40
THis is old new however this shows although our tourists are drecreasing in numbers, it clearly shows that we don't only rely on the British as they seem to think we do, we have our visiters that appreciate our country as mentioned above in the article and at least they don't complain as much as the English.
joseph preca
Sep 29th 2009, 14:43
The bottom line is that hotels in August suffered a decline in bed nights of 11.1% which is worrying and should not be masqueraded with confusing statistics. QUOTE " while guest nights in collective accommodation registered a drop of 11.1 percent."
Let us keep focused on marketing initiatives, maintaining cleanliness and offering good value for money.
Mark Cushcieri
Sep 29th 2009, 14:35
many british who used to come to malta to avoid multi culturalism ideas are not coming anymore...also germans etc i bet...immigration is killing one of our biggest industry ..tourism ..who wants to come to the next nairobi..haiti ..etc...and dr gonzi remains uninterested..shame...malta was once a gem in the mediteranean and a tourist destination....now its an african immigrants and construction dump site.
lgalea
Sep 29th 2009, 13:44
Mark Borg
You are right. I bet they are also counted as incoming tourists, the difference being that we have to maintain them at our expense.
Mark Cushcieri
Sep 29th 2009, 13:34
increase from lybian markets ..yes especially illegal immigrants..why arent they in the picture...if you go out on the roads you will see they are everywhere.
Roger Boyle
Sep 29th 2009, 13:17
Mr Decesare (MHRA), how do you explain a tuna salad in a prominent Marsascala restaurant costing Eur8 consisting simply of a bed of lettuce on a large plate and ONLY tuna in the middle (served by simply overturning the can onto the lettuce) with no other garnishing? Do you call this a salad? With no tomatoes, olives or at least a few capers? Is this worth Eur8?
N.Calleja
Sep 29th 2009, 12:39
Despite the decline in tourist figures was regular during the whole of this year, hoteliers and restaurant owners are still overcharging. During yesterday's Bondi Plus, figures shown were three times as much in eating places compared to plates prepared at home. The same goes for the wine list. It was so pathetic of Kevin DeCesare (MHRA President) stating that he those not know about this. If he doesn't know, he should resign because he does not fit in his post.
Jake Micallef
Sep 29th 2009, 11:48
The article seems to be depicting this as very negative. From feedback from various people in the market everyone was expecting a much much worse summer the uncertainty in all major european economies. I would dare say this is an excellent result for Malta... everyone wants year on year growth... but in this situation this is as positive as one can hope/aim for! Well done for anyone in the tourism industry for achieving this great result.
Brad Reece
Sep 29th 2009, 11:46
Hear we go again as usual the Maltese are talking money money money again, i suppose they are all crying all the way to the bank, now that are not seeing much of us Britains, well do you blame us, Malta nd Gozo well, its not a question of :ARE: but more like :HAVE: priced themselves out the european tourist market, pity caues we loved the place.