Quiet optimism for tourism growth this year
The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Mario de Marco, said today that while the problems of tourism were continuing to persist, he was confident and optimistic for this year.
Dr de Marco made his comments after the NSO released figures showing that tourist arrivals grew by 10.4 per cent last month while arrivals for the whole year were down by just over 8 per cent.
He pointed out that 2008 had been an exceptionally successful year, but when last year's performance was compared to an average year, such as 2006, arrivals had increased by 56,000.
Much of last year's drop in tourist arrivals was in the first half of the year, with a gradual recovery first noted after June. The figures turned into positive territory in December. The sharp decline in arrivals in the first half of last year was caused by the fact that many companies called off conference and incentive travel because of the economic crisis. Furthermore many families opted for a single holiday instead of two, dropping their winter travel.
The UK remained Malta's biggest source market, accounting for 35 per cent of all arrivals. While there had been a small drop from the previous years, Dr de Marco said that UK tourism to Malta had actually done well compared to other destinations.
The introduction of new air services saw 10 per cent growth in arrivals from Italy, which edged out Germany as the second biggest source market. The French and German markets dropped by 10 and 18 per cent respectively.
DECEMBER GROWTH
The NSO in a statement this morning said that 49,848 tourists came to Malta in December, up 10.4 compared to December 2008. The number of tourist nights remained relatively unchanged.
It said that 41,512 tourists visited Malta for holidays in December, and 6,111 were in Malta for business purposes. The majority of inbound tourists came from EU member states and amounted to 84 per cent of the total.
The number of non-EU tourists was estimated at 7,782.
First time visitors made up the majority of inbound tourists, with an estimated 53 per cent of total inbound tourists. Repeat tourists increased by 20 per cent to 23,441.
During the same period, guest nights in collective accommodation increased maginally by 0.7 per cent.
Overall, 75 per cent of inbound tourists chose to reside in collective accommodation, while 25 per cent made use of private accommodation. The average length of stay was eight nights, down by 0.8 nights when compared to December 2008.
ANNUAL DROP OF 8%
The NSO said that between January and December, 1,183,012 tourists came to Malta, down by eight per cent over 2008. The declines were mostly from British, German and Scandinavian destinations. Increases were recorded in the Italian and Libyan markets. The majority of inbound tourists opted for non-package travel.
The largest proportion of inbound passengers were aged between 45 and 64 closely followed by those within the 25-44 age bracket. Overall the majority of tourists visiting Malta remained on the island for at least seven nights. Total nights spent over the past months decreased by nine per cent. Guest nights in collective accommodation registered a drop of 12 per cent, while total nights in private accommodation decreased by 0.3 per cent.
The average length of stay was calculated at 8.5 nights, at par with 2008 levels. During these 12 months, total tourist expenditure was estimated at €916.4 million, resulting in a decrease of 12 per cent compared to 2008. Decreases were recorded throughout all expenditure categories and are attributed to the decreases in the number of nights spent here by these tourists
Per capita total expenditure was estimated at €791, down by four per cent when compared to 2008 levels.
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Gervais Marcel Cishahayo
Jan 29th 2010, 17:13
According to the EconomyWatch Malta economy 2007-2008 ...Malta's present economic development is mostly hinged on its tourism sector. It accounts for around 30% of national GDP. Malta economy is also highly dependent on exports of manufactured commodities, which mainly include semi-conductors. Low-cost flights and cruise tourism has further boosted Malta's tourism sector in recent years... I do not believe or even think that these were linked to the drop in french and german tourists numbers and quality visiting the Islands... But wasn't a french lady and a germany woman who featured recently in the media for having been assaulted by whom concerned here in Malta? Some other times it was some sailors who were assaulted in Paceville or another beaten to death... Lets make no mistake, no matter how much efforts the government invests in revitalising the economy, unless the frequent bad publicity of assaults on foreigners and xenophobic rethoric are addressed the results of these efforts will continue to be undermined.
Michael Scicluna
Jan 29th 2010, 06:38
Tourism figures announced are all hypothetical, we need tangibility people with money in the pockets and tills ringing. What Tourism needs is a miracle, and I mean like a real miracle. Lourdes in France attracts millions, Padre Pio, Medejgorie, Fatima, you name it and they all attract millions. Lets face it what else can we do to attract more tourists if not a real Miracle. One miracle would be that the Government and the opposition put there heads together and do things without any arguments, one gives in a little the other accepts a little, in the end it is for the benefit of all. Have a nice weekend. Please try to 'KEEP MALTA TIDY'.
Joe Grima
Jan 28th 2010, 18:02
Pull our other leg Mario Demarco. It has bells on it. December has never been a month to guage comparative tourist arrvals significantly simply because Christmas and New Year carry with them their own particular quirky fluctuations. Dr Demaco will grasp at any straw to try to give the impression that our tousim is recovering but, in effect, it is regrettably not. Instead of visiitng Christmas kitchens with a film camera in tow, Dr Demarco should visit the families of those hotel employees who have been laid off because their hotels have closed down for the winter, something that Malta had not seen for 30 odd years. . .
m farrugia
Jan 28th 2010, 17:56
'The introduction of new air services saw 10 per cent growth in arrivals from Italy, which edged out Germany as the second biggest source market. The French and German markets dropped by 10 and 18 per cent respectively'.
Why are authorities persisting in subsidising heavily LCC routes to UK & Italy and ignoring markets such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Eastern Europe. Do we expect tourists from these countries to pay in the region of Euro 400 each with Airmalta to visit our country. Tourists from these countries simply choose another destination, with all our country's tourism stakeholders losing out. Results speak for themselves.
D Farrugia
Jan 28th 2010, 17:16
why cant we bring Ryanair as a base in MALTA?
ANy response ??? The airline wants to base two aircrafts here in malta with ten new destinations.... just imagine 10 new destinations
thats makes around 200,000 more tourists per annum...BUT...
Maurice Farrugia
Jan 28th 2010, 14:40
Yeah thats true mostly Maltese returning back from abroad, some for visitng and others because they are probably out of work / unemployed as most countries are now experiencing high unemployment same as anyone else in europe and around the globe including the famous host country of Australia so i hear from my relations over there in melbourne.
laurence schembri
Jan 28th 2010, 14:04
These are mostly Maltese living abroad visiting families.
mario sciberras
Jan 28th 2010, 13:31
How reliable are these figures? What is the margin of error? Can the NSO publish from time to time the variances from figures such as these and the actual figures when they are collected?