Hotel occupancy levels fall in August
Guest arrivals in hotels and other tourist establishments in August amounted to 133,658 while total nights spent were recorded at 957,104, down by 8.8 percent over August 2008, the NSO said today.
The overall occupancy rate in collective accommodation establishments amounted to 77.6 percent, down by 8.6 percentage points when compared to the previous month.
During the month under review, the total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments were recorded at 133,658, of whom 118,717 or 88.8 percent were non-resident arrivals. The total nights spent in collective accommodation establishments were recorded at 957,104, a decrease of 8.8 percent over the corresponding month in 2008, with the largest drops being registered in the 3-star and 4-star hotel categories.
The average length of stay recorded for this month stood at 7.2 nights, a drop of 0.4 nights when compared to August 2008.
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D. Xerri
Oct 26th 2009, 17:42
Let me think ! Maybe we need to do another Brand Malta Mr Tourism Minister ? Maybe the hotel costs are more expensive than those in European Countries ? Maybe we are not competitive like other European Countries ? Maybe Malta is becoming more and more expensive to Tourists ? Maybe we are still way back in our promoting tourism as Sunny Malta when Tunisia rolled over us and is laughing in our faces to our expense ? Now what will happen when Libya becomes another Tunisia - miles and miles of coastline all full up of 5 star hotels that cost like a 3 star hotel in Malta ? Maybe we should continue sleeping on the problem Mr Government ? Oh sorry surely its not the Government`s fault - He has a Par Idejn Sodi on Everything in this country holding everything under total control. Our Governemt can't even hold Par idejn Sodi on his fellow mates in the Cabinet go figure on other issues !!
Andrew Paris
Oct 26th 2009, 13:48
Malta does not compare to other holiday destinations around the world. The tourist industry needs to clean up there act and learn about customer service becuase when this down turn in the economy ends those tourist with money are not coming back to Malta.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 26th 2009, 13:45
I reiterate what I have said many times before. It is very convenient to hide behind the recession but this is not the whole story. A lot of what is happening is "self inflicted".
Let us face it. Malta is not dirty but filthy with all the rubbish in the streets at ALL times of the day. Just go to Sliema, St. Julians, and Bugibba but do not have your blinkers on!! A lot of Streets, roads, pavements are in a mess. Traffic is uncontrollable and we take the cake for emissions. Prices ?? Need I go on. Before you solve a problem you need to admit that there is a problem. Besides, Tourism should be looked after by those who really know what it is all about.
Tonio Bone
Oct 26th 2009, 12:42
@ G.C. Forte
I cannot come to terms with whether your comment was a form of sarcasm or downright blue-shaded eyesight.
It's obvious that the recession has a negative effect, but everyone knows that most of the plans worked out for tourism in the last 10/15 years have not really worked. We've paid millions in consultancy fees and advertising with no real results.
I feel that the real reason is that our product in general is inferior to that offered by other destinations. Okay we have all the right resources: an enviable history, sun, sea, fullstop! The only 5 star objects we have are the half empty hotels, step outside and its mostly 3 star, decadent and extremely expensive.
So hotels are in trouble, most 3-star hotels are on the verge of closing down or thinking about converting to retirement homes, and the government has announced the building of two new hotels in Valletta. One to replace the old fish house and the other in place of Evans Buildings! Do we really need more hotels?
N.Calleja
Oct 26th 2009, 12:15
@g.forte
The same dismal comment from the same gloomer! Are you living on the same planet? Do you watch the foreign news? Don't you hear that there is no country that has not had a slump in tourism this year? I think that it's only you and your like that have solutions to these problems. Maybe Joseph Muscat has the magic wand eh?
g.c.Forte
Oct 26th 2009, 11:35
It is not the fault of the Government, but the recession. This government do nothing wrong.It is a Godsend government,and cannot make mistakes.