A record 199,430 tourists came to Malta in August - the highest number of tourists ever to visit Malta in any single month.

The figure was also 4.4 per cent more than in the same month last year. 

The National Statistics Office said that Tourstat data showed that total nights spent rose by 9.8 per cent, while the average length of stay reached 10.5 nights.

A total 174,817 tourists came on holiday, while 6,514 travelled on business.

Those from EU states increased by three per cent, with a market share equivalent to 86 per cent of the total. Tourists from outside the EU advanced by 14 per cent, reaching 28,291.

Malta's main market remained the UK, with a share equivalent to 27 per cent of the total, followed by Italy, with an 18 per cent share. Both these markets remained practically unchanged when compared to last year.

The French market advanced by 17 per cent, while the German market declined by eight per cent.

Package travel decreased by seven per cent.

Total expenditure was estimated at €225.6 million - a growth of 8 per cent over 2011. Expenditure on package travel remained practically unchanged, while expenditures incurred by non-package tourists experienced an increase of 23 per cent.

Between January and August, 981,286 came to Malta, slightly more than in 2011. The main origin of inbound trips continued to be the British market, while a significant increase was recorded in the Libyan, Russian, Scandinavian, Spanish and German markets.

On the other hand, the Belgian, British and Italian markets recorded a downward shift when compared to last year's levels.

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