The number of visitors to Malta in December increased by 8.5 per cent while bed nights increased by 12 per cent compared with the same period last year.

The average length of stay was 4.8 nights

The total number of arrivals was 78,251, spending a total of 372,085 nights in hotels, an average length of stay of 4.8 nights, the National Statistics Office said.

Increases in arrivals were noted in almost all accommodation categories, with the exception of two-star hotels.

Around 48 per cent of nights were spent in four-star hotels, while five-star hotels accounted for 21.7 per cent. On a national level, the net number of bedrooms and bed-places stood at 16,407 and 35,892 respectively and both figures increased when compared to 2011.

Between October and December, arrivals amounted to 297,348, up by 6.4 per cent when compared to the same period in 2011.

Total nights spent in that quarter were of over 1.6 million, a 6.1 per cent increase over the corresponding quarter in 2011.

Total arrivals in collective accommodation establishments amounted to 283,513 while nights amounted to 1.5 million.