All tourism records broken - de Marco
This year was the best for tourism in Malta’s history with arrivals, bed nights and expenditure records being broken, Tourism Minister Mario de Marco said this morning.
The minister was speaking after visiting preparations for this evening’s New Year celebrations in Valletta and Floriana, for which some 40,000 people are expected. He then visited Castille Hotel in Valletta and Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana.
The minister hoped to see a flow of people going from one locality to another this evening visiting all three main stages of entertainment - in Floriana, the new theatre on the site of the former Opera House, and St George’s Square.
Dr de Marco said that a total of 1.44 million tourists visited Malta this year, leaving some €1.3 billion in the economy and spending 12 million nights here.
This was a million more than the previous record which was five years ago.
Dr de Marco said that there were a number of applications for boutique hotels and thanked workers in the tourism industry who made the successes being achieved possible.
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42 Comments
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Mr Joe Portelli
Jan 1st, 01:37
Quite impressive for a government led by one "li jpaċpaċ biss" !
Rosie Caruana
Dec 31st 2012, 19:27
I hope this Marco sort will receive a medal, cause a few weeks ago i read the opposite, not once but twice then a day later a different story, whom are we to believe then? the mind boggles. i work in the netherlands and many dutch are now opting out for the Canaries and Spain, Malta is rarely advertised cause of the prices and airfairs being so steep. i actually do work in a travel agency i know.
RONALD ARRY
Dec 31st 2012, 19:18
5000,000,000 debt ,that is for sure a record de marco ,kif il pn il kelma debt ma jsemmijix ux mux rekord ukoll
Charles Massa
Dec 31st 2012, 18:16
Minkejja dan kollhu, il lukandiera qieghdin jghidu li l profitti qieghed jittieklu mit taxxi li ghamel GONZIPN. Jekk il lukandiera ma jaghmlux profitt ma jkollomx finanzi biex jaghmlu upgrading tal hotels u ghal hekk ikun hemm riskju li turisti jonqsu. Waqt li tajjeb li turisti jizdiedu ghax din hija industrija li thaddem hafna nies, ma irridux ninsew li promoturi jinvestu ghal profitt
P Borg
Dec 31st 2012, 17:04
Good ministers, good results. Impressive results in this sector. Prosit, Dr de Marco!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 31st 2012, 17:02
Government must thank the disastrous condition of tourism in our neighbouring North African countries, due to the Arab Spring phenomenon. Let us hope the numbers keep coming even after these countries get back on their feet.
j brincat
Dec 31st 2012, 16:51
@George Cutajar
"Who shall we now blame for this record in tourism figures? I do not think it is a case that some head must roll. Congratulations to all concerned in achieving these numbers"
AND tell us dear George WHEN have heads rolled here over this tiny island - except of course those of the small fry!!!
jb
j brincat
Dec 31st 2012, 16:49
@carmel parnis
"Mr Brincat seems you listen only to ONE NEW"
Mr Parnis are you for REAL?
I'm posting on TOM not MaltaStar - but this is in case you haven't even realised this!
Capito?
jb
carmel parnis
Dec 31st 2012, 19:33
So J BRINCAT according to you its not true that Mr Zahra said on MTV news [not reported on ONE NEWS ] that they will be investing millions of Euros on the Hal Far progect ? that is all contrary to what you declared Capito now
ronald mifsud
Dec 31st 2012, 16:26
u tal-lukandi jgergru ghax mhu qed jaqalghu xejn imsieken. it-turisti kollha taht il-bankina qed jorqdu. They are never satisfied.
George Cutajar
Dec 31st 2012, 15:43
Who shall we now blame for this record in tourism figures? I do not think it is a case that some head must roll. Congratulations to all concerned in achieving these numbers.
Tony Bishop
Dec 31st 2012, 15:33
Maybe it was a record for tourism but still those employed in the hotels and catering are paid as either as part-time or on contract basis.
R. Cilia
Dec 31st 2012, 15:25
How is the number of tourists calculated these days ? Do they count the number of passengers entering Malta through the air and sea ports? If so then the statistics are misleading since the the locals leave the country for holidays and work.Are they counted as tourists when they return? Even the number of nights spent in a hotel cannot be considered since the locals go for weekend breaks in hotels
R. Grech
Dec 31st 2012, 15:20
Hah, the last record was 5 years ago... just before the last general election I'm assuming. Coincidence?
carmel parnis
Dec 31st 2012, 15:56
Sur Grech ir record tat turisti ilu jinkiser ghal dawn l ahhar 3 snin
Tonio Bone
Dec 31st 2012, 15:05
Let us give credit where credit is due. Mario De Marco and everyone concerned deserve it hands down. This was a concerted effort which is bearing its fruits not only in numbers and statistics, but in revitalising all the industry involved. Some people tend to be grumpy and disgruntled at all costs! Tourism is one of the success stories of this legislature!
David Magro
Dec 31st 2012, 15:56
Mr.Bone, ok,fine, agree, but what about the income they generated to our economy...finally it all boils down to the amount in euro ¢s that this number left in our economy...these numbers were not published!
Tonio Bone
Dec 31st 2012, 16:34
Yes David, that is correct, but I would imagine that record levels of tourist arrivals would automatically inject money into the economy in someway or other. Those that are well prepared make the most of it, those that are lagging behind do not reap the benefits. We need to remember the importance of tourism and as such if the figures are on the up we should all feel grateful!
Victor Borg
Dec 31st 2012, 18:45
This has little to do with the government or tourism operators. We are just lucky that the international situation has made Europeans opt to take holidays in places that are (1) safe, (2) relatively cheap, (3) near (ie, cheap to fly to). As soon as disturbances settle and Europe's economic situation brightens, the number of tourists coming to Malta will decrease, irrespective who is in government.
E. Azzopardi
Dec 31st 2012, 14:58
That is very good in fact excellent. But as has been reported in the press the hoteliers stated that they lost €10 million in the last five years?
How does the minister explain that with all his records being broken?
George Calleja
Dec 31st 2012, 15:43
Do you believe what the hoteliers say? They are the same as all business people. Never satisfied and always moaning for more ...like Oliver Twist. Where is Tony Zahra for any comments?
carmel parnis
Dec 31st 2012, 15:57
U dejjem iridu jkabbru Ara min irid ikabbar il business jekk ikun qed jitlef
Toni Borg
Dec 31st 2012, 14:49
irridu niccaraw il-kelma "record"
Tista tfisser jew li inqabes l-ghola l-ammont ta qabel li kien hemm fid-data collection intehaq jew gie irregistrat numru gdid fid-data li avolja ma nqabisx allura l-ammont hu record ghal konfini ta statistika u data biex jitqabbel. Allura record ha jkun hemm kull xhar. Jinqabes jew le trid tqablu ma l-ghola/l-inqas li hemm fil-kotba/data ta qabel
B Debono
Dec 31st 2012, 14:46
People who would *clap* at this article surely don't get out of their houses frequently or else don't talk to shop owners in tourists area.. It's easy to stay at home watch the news and stay smiling about what you hear.
Jonathan Barnes
Dec 31st 2012, 15:01
I'm with you all the way there! So many bars, restaurants & hotels closed down, rules & regulations becoming rediculous, The once busling seafront of Bugibba now like a ghosttown, bring back the 90's, the Lira and the happy people, not statistics!
B Debono
Dec 31st 2012, 17:59
Thumbs up Mr Barnes, Have been working in the tourism section in Bugibba for the past 5-7 years, and each year the amount that is spent by tourists is less than the previous year.. Such a beauty of a place Bugibba is, and it's being treated that way!
Jj Zammit
Dec 31st 2012, 14:44
Bhalissa kollox Record lol,imma il verita x´inhi ezatt, Record jew mhux Record???
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Dec 31st 2012, 14:40
Well done to all concerned. At least if elected the PL will find one decent ministry functioning as it should.
George Calleja
Dec 31st 2012, 15:47
If elected the PL will surely find excuses so as to put the blame on the PN. But PL will surely not perform miracles because the past is the mirror of the future.
Francis Raeymaekers
Dec 31st 2012, 19:04
MEPA?????????!
Albert Spiteri
Dec 31st 2012, 14:40
How many out of these 1.44 million spent at least a week in a hotel? What proportion consists of internal tourism? What proportion consists of foreign Maltese visiting (and maintained by) relatives? How many are cruise-line passengers on one-day-trips? How many are foreign students on budget visits spending next to nothing? Thus pruning, tourist head count would result closer to 0.44million.
Robert Agius
Dec 31st 2012, 14:27
p.s. What were the hoteliers complaining about then? This is so utterly confusing, can someone explain?
effie stafrace
Dec 31st 2012, 14:53
don't you know that when election time in malta is like the Olympics games.a lot of records get broken
j brincat
Dec 31st 2012, 14:26
'Henry Fenech Azzopardi
"Amazing how Franco Debono did not ask for your resignation too. That is enough proof of your ability to deliver"
Therefore, he (Dr Franco) is not irrelevant as Toppled GonziPN wishes he is .
Irrelevant and in Y 2012 he has topped the charts!
Then, what is he who said that he is irrelevant. Non existent?????
jb
Robert Agius
Dec 31st 2012, 14:24
De Marco, why don't we use the 'GDP growth' argument here then? Actually, this should be happening every year. Where is Mr. Fenech when you need him?
j brincat
Dec 31st 2012, 14:22
Records bases on figures is simply not on.
Is the industry earning enough so that it can invest some of its profits in capital outlay?
According to Mr Zahra this is not the case.
jb
carmel parnis
Dec 31st 2012, 16:02
Mr Brincat seems you listen only to ONE NEWS . Mr Zahra was on the news declaring a progect worth millions of euros on the HAL FERH project That was some days ago if you are interested
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Dec 31st 2012, 14:08
Prosit Dr. De Marco.
It would be pity if you will not be able to remain at the helm of torisim next year due to partisian priorities.
Wish you the best for the new year and hope we shall see more of you in years to come.
Amazing how Franco Debono did not ask for your resignation too. That is enough proof of your ability to deliver.
m. borg (slm)
Dec 31st 2012, 13:48
What's the use of breaking tourism recordes when Winston Zahra complains that the catering establishment lost 10 million euros over the last 4 years.
This is like local athletes competing in the olympics and are happy because they brake national records despite never making it with the front runners.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 31st 2012, 13:16
Still not good enough.
Victor Vella
Dec 31st 2012, 12:58
All of a sudden everything is going to fruition.Records in Tourism, record of AirMalta in sales and virtual profit, Arriva is going fuq ir-rubini, national debt all time record, 6,000 jobs ready for Smart City Malta by 09March2013, Brazilian factories booming, Sales out of season record, shoppers grumbling of no sales record, record of monies gathered by the PN &LP& l-Istrina..Hawwadni ha nifhem.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Dec 31st 2012, 12:47
Electioneering truce, my foot.
Please choose the reason of your report below: